tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9381181209932090092017-12-13T08:10:25.623-06:00Rachael SloughStories, support, and awareness from the perspective of an autism momRachael Snoreply@blogger.comBlogger96125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-938118120993209009.post-48631619947690553762017-11-15T10:34:00.001-06:002017-11-15T11:32:32.046-06:00Autism Service Dog Tracks His Boy<div><font face="Helvetica">We’ve worked on tracking nearly every day we’ve been training at 4 Paws. I hope we never have to do a real track, but our reality is that Brandon has a high risk of elopement. Heaven forbid we lose Brandon or he exits our home or his school and takes off, Bing will help us find him. As you can see in the first video, Brandon is fast. In the second video you will see see&nbsp;</font><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Bing tracking Brandon!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br></span></div><div><br><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uNRNLlxE4Pg" width="500" height="281" id="y_id_94ce_ecc4_4d40_3e52" frameborder="0"></iframe><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br></span></div><div><br><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aLu6bxUlxv0" width="500" height="281" id="y_id_792b_5ed9_a565_6a5f" frameborder="0"></iframe><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br></span></div><div><br></div><div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span><span style="width: 18px; height: 18px; position: absolute; z-index: 101; top: 163px; left: 136.5px;"></span><span style="width: 18px; height: 18px; position: absolute; z-index: 101; top: 130px; left: 272px;"></span><span style="width: 18px; height: 18px; position: absolute; z-index: 101; top: 163px; left: 272px;"></span><span style="width: 18px; height: 18px; position: absolute; z-index: 101; top: 99px; left: 1px;"></span><span style="width: 18px; height: 18px; position: absolute; z-index: 101; top: 99px; left: 136.5px;"></span><span style="width: 18px; height: 18px; position: absolute; z-index: 101; top: 130px; left: 1px;"></span><span style="width: 18px; height: 18px; position: absolute; z-index: 101; top: 99px; left: 272px;"></span><span style="width: 18px; height: 18px; position: absolute; z-index: 101; top: 163px; left: 1px;"></span><span style="width: 28px; height: 28px; position: absolute; z-index: 101; top: 124px; left: 130.5px;"></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-l7sQXPqXrOc/VxvZYhgg82I/AAAAAAAAB_I/eJCP1EP1o5QshuNWHyxlqpEZhdXXs4rIgCCo/s279/signature.png" id="id_a482_5fff_9a8d_5165" style="width: 279px; height: auto;"></span></div></div>Rachael Shttps://plus.google.com/113022326268788572098noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-938118120993209009.post-81394362931928676452017-11-11T16:20:00.000-06:002017-11-11T16:20:21.118-06:00Brandon and His Autism Service Dog Walk Through The Mall<span style="font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today was an exciting day.&nbsp; Brandon has had a rough couple of days behaviorally, but today was much better.&nbsp; With Bing, we've been working on tracking, tethering, and commands such as sit, stand, heal, down, and under (lay down under a table).&nbsp; When we sit down to eat a meal at the hotel, Bing goes right under the table and lays down with no prompting.&nbsp; It is obvrious how frequently and consistently he has been trained.&nbsp; He is so easy to manage in public.&nbsp; We have one amazing dog!&nbsp; I am so thankful my husband chose <a href="http://4pawsforability.org/" target="_blank">4 Paws for Ability</a>&nbsp;for us to go on this journey with.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We went to the mall today as part of our training, and Bing was perfect.&nbsp; Lots of people stopped to ask us questions about Bing, and we were more than happy to answer!&nbsp; Everyone we talked to asked us if they could pet him before doing so, which was great!&nbsp; We do allow people to pet him, as long as he stays in the command he is in.&nbsp; So, if he is in a "sit," and someone pets him, it's fine as long as he remains in a sit.&nbsp; I am relieved that this allowed because with as many people that stopped us today, someone will inevitably pet him without asking, and he will be used to it.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Below is a video of us walking through the mall.&nbsp; You can't really see him in the video, but the person I am talking to is Bing's trainer.&nbsp; For the first time, Brandon was able to walk through the mall without having to be strapped down in a stroller, or be stuck with me having a death grip on his hand.&nbsp; We rarely go to the mall.&nbsp; I mean, almost never.&nbsp; It is way overstimulating.&nbsp; It's loud, there are lots of people, and Brandon will only tolerate being strapped in a stroller for so long.&nbsp; He is six years old, after all!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/5RNndpEJ7oM/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5RNndpEJ7oM?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-l7sQXPqXrOc/VxvZYhgg82I/AAAAAAAAB_I/eJCP1EP1o5QshuNWHyxlqpEZhdXXs4rIgCCo/s279/signature.png" />Rachael Shttps://plus.google.com/113022326268788572098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-938118120993209009.post-70768404134836136032017-11-08T18:41:00.000-06:002017-11-08T18:42:09.513-06:00First Day of our “New Normal” with Bing<div><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">We are starting to get in a routine, and so thrilled that Bing now gets to be a part of that routine by coming back to the hotel with us every night.&nbsp;</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">I got in touch with a woman who fostered Bing, and she sent me these photos of him as a puppy!</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Today at training, Brandon was whining, unable to communicate what he wanted. I asked, “Stroller or play?” as I pointed to the stroller, then the playroom. He clearly said “Bee!” (aka Bing). I was blown away. Shocked! Thrilled! Overjoyed! We immediately started giving Bing some treats. There were smiles all around.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">I promise to get more pictures and videos of Brandon and Bing in our hotel room, but we have just been soaking in all the love tonight and I haven’t gotten very many pictures.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><img alt="" id="id_8f1d_929e_e7f7_b666" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4QVNUNMgfiQ/WgNDzaYJiwI/AAAAAAAACcw/wFkd-4f_Tpo-3IHDMw8cjb_HZET7ss1oACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /><br /><img alt="" id="id_7c53_51f1_bb0e_8fdb" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-I0ykQGNZmmQ/WgNDzlabznI/AAAAAAAACc0/UIFEcajf2ZA0iZAsJbKClarWJ_yF0f4CACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /><br /><img alt="" id="id_eda_7806_fd4a_7f4d" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GBvMf9S7fBQ/WgND1bTkloI/AAAAAAAACdE/KWtoq2RsMVgDNn77cqrrlRISMJ5G5krbwCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /><br /><img alt="" id="id_f936_8fe1_e91_41f0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3ObmC4EWNhA/WgND0erO0bI/AAAAAAAACc4/dq4_jZEwwlI21PPH6_kmf01h1U196OucACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /><br /><img alt="" id="id_1135_dc40_6b57_c416" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-51h0hUeB7lU/WgND082iqEI/AAAAAAAACc8/WMArA6-2cUkxkGZ67NbSDBpb2DUY3R3CwCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /><br /><img alt="" id="id_142f_4929_3ffc_541" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gxazi0xfJ58/WgND1tM_ImI/AAAAAAAACdI/zwIjwt_IRK4t-tAtJ_GdASj5Dbcix_6wQCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><img alt="" id="id_f0d0_2188_c1ea_a9dd" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-O1aDgqCgo78/WgNMs0NMkuI/AAAAAAAACdk/N5j-q8fLihIfC9VxEzkFHm-AlBsmGzTmgCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span><img alt="" id="id_fe08_99a6_485e_d7ff" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qeI8WBc74KI/WgNMtIqPePI/AAAAAAAACdo/PaNuO7vLv2A-I3z4h1HnS00SrEDyWYI2ACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /><br /><img alt="" id="id_38d0_95ad_70d8_ecb0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-j7BsPMpF0Cg/WgNMuBjb-lI/AAAAAAAACdw/qAUdleHr5SkiT06GLiEMOjraY0vW7dRvACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /><br /><img alt="" id="id_6fc0_cf6c_39f9_7531" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MdTKGu7I6wY/WgOjxzdgWcI/AAAAAAAACeM/GyFvFr-1yjAHS6wn3mdT8AZgx63olqsMQCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /><br /><img id="id_a482_5fff_9a8d_5165" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-l7sQXPqXrOc/VxvZYhgg82I/AAAAAAAAB_I/eJCP1EP1o5QshuNWHyxlqpEZhdXXs4rIgCCo/s279/signature.png" style="height: auto; width: 279px;" /></span></div>Rachael Shttps://plus.google.com/113022326268788572098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-938118120993209009.post-7295054694342151182017-11-07T16:00:00.000-06:002017-11-13T07:29:05.794-06:00Two Days of Autism Service Dog Training Under Our Belts<div><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">Well, we are now on day two of twelve days of training.&nbsp; Yesterday, at our first day of training, Brandon melted down right away. It wasn't a severe meltdown, but he did bite himself and was crying for about an hour.&nbsp; That probably sounds severe, but the crying was not astronomically loud, and he was not trying to injure me.&nbsp; In fact, he didn't want me to leave his side.&nbsp; I had pulled him to the play room right off of the large training room at <a href="http://4pawsforability.org/" target="_blank">4 Paws</a>, and we decided to lay on the couch together and watch Miss Spider on YouTube.&nbsp; If I moved an inch, he grabbed on to my leg in a panic that I was going to leave him.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">What caused this anxiety for him?&nbsp; I can only speculate that part of the anxiety was that we were in a large space with lots of people and noise.&nbsp; He had never been here before, and perhaps he thought we were going to leave him. &nbsp;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">I was heartbroken. Yes, I always feel bad for him (and sometimes me) when he’s &nbsp;having a hard time, but I feared he was going to miss his special moment meeting Bingo.&nbsp; Thankfully, as you can see in the video in my last post (<a href="http://www.rachaelslough.com/2017/11/the-first-time-brandon-met-his-autism.html" target="_blank">here</a>), he enjoyed meeting and feeding Bingo.&nbsp; I didn't get the first second reaction, because I didn't want to miss the moment myself trying to get a video.&nbsp; So, that video is a few minutes after that initial meeting.&nbsp; They were both moments James and I will never forget!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">4 Paws has a pretty cool playroom that has been a necessity for us to take breaks from the training room. It has also allowed Brandon to run around and play, making it easier to limit screen time. We break for lunch each day for an hour, but we’ve spent most of that time in the car. &nbsp;As much as I can’t stand eating in the car, Brandon needs that quiet time in his safe place in his car seat. We tried going into Chipotle today, but he wasn’t having it. He is perfectly content to be in the car!</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">Tomorrow we get to bring Bingo back to the hotel room with us! I will also have some more pictures and video of Bing and Brandon working together in the coming days as we move toward more complex commands and training.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--7-01PC8FJU/WgG_V9LsVHI/AAAAAAAACbc/NYRiCtgN5vk143FJf6q4jbNoKcLi9tXSQCHMYCw/s1600/%255BUNSET%255D" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="id_7378_7ff2_819a_ba9f" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--7-01PC8FJU/WgG_V9LsVHI/AAAAAAAACbc/NYRiCtgN5vk143FJf6q4jbNoKcLi9tXSQCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-p7R3_2ZA7KA/WgG_UsarMwI/AAAAAAAACbY/56qv-0sOMa4w9toTT96YsB8AH5AnnqDGQCHMYCw/s1600/%255BUNSET%255D" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="id_70bd_1d95_87b6_c989" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-p7R3_2ZA7KA/WgG_UsarMwI/AAAAAAAACbY/56qv-0sOMa4w9toTT96YsB8AH5AnnqDGQCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></a><br /><br /><img alt="" id="id_b9c5_c4b4_38ea_561" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uZJlSt4naMs/WgG_YOrjq4I/AAAAAAAACbk/6sMS3GbzfUcmu_jZ9_JBHe0XFCWIOkNuACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /><br /><img alt="" id="id_f08f_2dc9_bc9f_9ed3" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-X0wYR_Vuoag/WgG_W_VfyfI/AAAAAAAACbg/jegIPDM5tNw5RxLQhR9fXlZG7HIq7h0PACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /><br /><img alt="" id="id_3df6_85b7_fe66_82c3" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-79NIvkmRCYc/WgG_Zh9aRhI/AAAAAAAACbo/garTqikU6VAdx3U4OG8vwdytgBnKahqHQCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><img alt="" id="id_755f_966f_a7fe_972" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-W4Tw-dICyRU/WgG_Zy2SZmI/AAAAAAAACbs/gRBXKWLuAHgoC5He-tjLOkYKLWHg8OMQgCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /><br /><img alt="" id="id_a709_8fc1_4d8a_502d" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HLonTJhjRq0/WgG_avMOY5I/AAAAAAAACbw/F7R5zSeUYRQ24v0j6YKwyQSxG_TgN-K8QCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /><br /><img alt="" id="id_54cf_aab3_9b57_ed7d" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1CVwwEkRN7M/WgG_d_0JrCI/AAAAAAAACb4/h21y90yLVJ4P06bLnzvzHMZ3-evgLHaSgCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /><br /><img alt="" id="id_72c1_60ac_2f1e_3549" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Wf1D1KquCTw/WgG_dvxfoBI/AAAAAAAACb0/JuE3OFPaoycvi3s3yKr0t86GZwYrP8IKwCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /><br /><img alt="" id="id_e21a_4c38_608f_ace7" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eNwfY7zqSgo/WgG_eg_u-dI/AAAAAAAACcA/IaDCyc4By042Bke7pgSqhrE34_l63XUxACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span><img alt="" id="id_7673_b744_6c19_db96" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-z41EKE2lVnw/WgG_d0cV6RI/AAAAAAAACb8/Bm1saJKG5oIanGLcAZ_mmWDa5qBk0j5gQCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /><br /><img id="id_a482_5fff_9a8d_5165" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-l7sQXPqXrOc/VxvZYhgg82I/AAAAAAAAB_I/eJCP1EP1o5QshuNWHyxlqpEZhdXXs4rIgCCo/s279/signature.png" style="height: auto; width: 279px;" /></span></div>Rachael Shttps://plus.google.com/113022326268788572098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-938118120993209009.post-31764004672127062182017-11-05T11:58:00.001-06:002017-11-07T07:56:51.561-06:00Brandon Meets His Autism Service Dog for the First Time<div><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">The moment you’ve all been waiting for...Brandon meets his autism service dog!</span></div><div><br /><iframe frameborder="0" height="281" id="y_id_d3f1_5fbc_87_8e76" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dJdrJR1weDM" width="500"></iframe><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /><br /><img id="id_a482_5fff_9a8d_5165" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-l7sQXPqXrOc/VxvZYhgg82I/AAAAAAAAB_I/eJCP1EP1o5QshuNWHyxlqpEZhdXXs4rIgCCo/s279/signature.png" style="height: auto; width: 279px;" /></span></div>Rachael Shttps://plus.google.com/113022326268788572098noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-938118120993209009.post-37094734025861633062017-11-05T11:49:00.001-06:002017-11-05T20:18:54.504-06:00 We Made It: Day One<div><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica&quot;;">We made it! We believe we have thought of everything we might need for this 12 night trip to train with Brandon’s autism service dog, Bingo, but only time will tell! Brandon was a little cranky about the long trip, but overall he was fine.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica&quot;;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica&quot;;">We are staying in a hotel suite. As you can see, we brought his swing with us, and I am so glad we did!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica&quot;;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica&quot;;">We meet Bingo tomorrow!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica&quot;;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica&quot;;"><img alt="" id="id_f335_fea7_44f0_c28f" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qMnTT8WLHG4/Wf9PDX6CT-I/AAAAAAAACZA/fhSaiIMr7QEyAeFKvePFkHH6SgEcYxQagCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica&quot;;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica&quot;;"><img alt="" id="id_4a74_45ac_91f4_e0c2" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sBSoH3ekwUk/Wf9PDWvRiMI/AAAAAAAACY4/2C8PSYXbGf0FshGmwudf_7J3sq9iokUTwCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica&quot;;"><img alt="" id="id_d9fc_decf_856_d9d8" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hju9b1LjQpY/Wf9PDXUsdSI/AAAAAAAACY8/KqHGCzGQ8XQr0ti2QqIbT9oCt21QbsylQCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></span></div><div><img alt="" id="id_f9e6_1947_8510_6aa6" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2CjRAb211A0/Wf-VLTS_AYI/AAAAAAAACaw/YhoKNpZJEZUgmG1dyTeoG6uvFUdv_1tRACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /><br /><img alt="" id="id_9294_8b35_1fec_579e" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yaMr5Uo3A8c/Wf-VKy4tnII/AAAAAAAACao/6dV04IAaPOwL7DRo27zoCdYitfu_tqn1QCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /><br /><img alt="" id="id_383d_4283_3bc1_be53" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xCZ3u83hBrk/Wf-VLSOUu-I/AAAAAAAACas/vShn-pNRCJE2Pu8XcWH2vPcw2vHx-5f1ACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img alt="" id="id_7ba6_b25e_67c0_92c9" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3R6ts_XUUJE/Wf-VLfXJ1KI/AAAAAAAACa0/C5iulaS9ACMZjPx8QCQeIiM-uXDJjT1-gCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img id="id_a482_5fff_9a8d_5165" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-l7sQXPqXrOc/VxvZYhgg82I/AAAAAAAAB_I/eJCP1EP1o5QshuNWHyxlqpEZhdXXs4rIgCCo/s279/signature.png" style="height: auto; width: 279px;" /></span></div><div><br /></div>Rachael Shttps://plus.google.com/113022326268788572098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-938118120993209009.post-50285285745356895892017-10-28T17:13:00.000-05:002017-10-28T17:13:54.296-05:00Meet Bingo, Our Autism Service Dog!<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">Dear Brandon,</span></div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">You're my new BFF?!? I am so excited to have my very own boy!</span></div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">Do you like music?!? Well there's this song that goes, There was a farmer who had a dog, And Bingo was his name-o. B-I-N-G-O B-I-N-G-O B-I-N-G-O. It's catchy isn't it?! Well guess what?! That's my name! Bingo!! I'm actually not named after the dog in the song though. I am named after the card game called Bingo, that game is about having a perfect match! And I think we're gonna be just that! A perfect match!</span></div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">I am a boy from the Card Game litter! We were born on 10-1-2016 to Nadya, a Labrador Retriever, and Nome, a 3/4 Golden, 1/4 Lab, so I am a Golden/Lab!</span></div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">I spent my first few months in the 4 Paws Puppy Enrichment Program before heading out to the Prison Program to teach my handlers all about unconditional love, which just so happens to be my speciality!! After graduating the Prison Program I headed to the University of Dayton to attend college with puppy raising team! Finally I headed back to 4 Paws for my biggest lesson yet, all things Brandon!</span></div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">I can't wait to start my life with my new family! Hurry here!</span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #1d2129;">&nbsp;</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">xoxo&nbsp;</span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">Bingo</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xPbB-Z-upDQ/WfUAguN9g5I/AAAAAAAACYY/AjzffruYiYkCiSl20_84qHSP522q1tKDQCLcBGAs/s1600/fullsizeoutput_46d.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1019" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xPbB-Z-upDQ/WfUAguN9g5I/AAAAAAAACYY/AjzffruYiYkCiSl20_84qHSP522q1tKDQCLcBGAs/s640/fullsizeoutput_46d.jpeg" width="407" /></a></div><br /><br /><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-l7sQXPqXrOc/VxvZYhgg82I/AAAAAAAAB_I/eJCP1EP1o5QshuNWHyxlqpEZhdXXs4rIgCCo/s279/signature.png" />Rachael Shttps://plus.google.com/113022326268788572098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-938118120993209009.post-81804845832624245202017-09-02T08:09:00.000-05:002017-09-02T08:15:23.726-05:00Autism Acceptance T-Shirt to Support Organizations who Support Special Needs Children (Ends Sept. 15th, 2017!!!)<span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;">Show your support and acceptance for those with autism!&nbsp;</span></span><br /><div><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;">Brandon has had the privilege of attending two wonderful schools who wholeheartedly support special needs children: Scales Elementary School and The Ann Campbell Early Learning Center. We have made lifelong friends at both schools, and Brandon has made tremendous gains due to having access to fantastic programs.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;">The proceeds from this shirt sale will to go Scales Elementary School. A portion will also go to the Ann Campbell Early Learning Center, formerly Project Help, an inclusive preschool where children who are typically developing and children with developmental delays or disabilities play together and learn from each other.&nbsp;</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;">By buying a shirt, you will support two wonderful schools. Both schools have served Brandon and may other special needs children with love and support.</span></span><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.customink.com/fundraising/scalesprojecthelp?side=front&amp;type=1&amp;zoom=false" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="431" data-original-width="450" height="306" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OLHeFaPgkx0/Waqt6rrv2FI/AAAAAAAACWo/Z97CprILb8suFd4n82DMiQMfXr-bBAcdgCLcBGAs/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-09-02%2Bat%2B8.10.15%2BAM.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.customink.com/fundraising/scalesprojecthelp?side=front&amp;type=2&amp;zoom=false" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="433" data-original-width="450" height="307" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Eta8NuLTzic/Waqt6l8TbfI/AAAAAAAACWs/1pPDNBuGPeQ3tWjc6kuyBcymXnpTnHZ7gCLcBGAs/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-09-02%2Bat%2B8.10.23%2BAM.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-l7sQXPqXrOc/VxvZYhgg82I/AAAAAAAAB_I/eJCP1EP1o5QshuNWHyxlqpEZhdXXs4rIgCCo/s279/signature.png" /><br /><span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span></div>Rachael Shttps://plus.google.com/113022326268788572098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-938118120993209009.post-54398539593062305022017-07-22T09:09:00.000-05:002017-07-22T09:09:38.891-05:00High Highs and Low Lows<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 6px;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IpCabbPk-hA/WXNZ38yZIHI/AAAAAAAACVk/kLTlhasc-joLKZlBxm05EtnbGfDpwZqDQCLcBGAs/s1600/20108158_10104551492300125_135887932684280255_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: #1d2129; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IpCabbPk-hA/WXNZ38yZIHI/AAAAAAAACVk/kLTlhasc-joLKZlBxm05EtnbGfDpwZqDQCLcBGAs/s320/20108158_10104551492300125_135887932684280255_n.jpg" width="256" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Two days in a row I wrote a Facebook post about my son, Brandon. &nbsp;The contrast between the two was very eye opening for my friends and for myself. &nbsp;The love came pouring in from my friends via texts and social media.<br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />My first post said this: </span><i style="font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the VERY first time, Brandon asked ME to snuggle with HIM!!!! He took me by the hand, brought me in my room, and put my hand on the blanket I use to lay on the couch with. I picked it up and he took me to the couch. I sat next to him, then he pushed my arm toward his iPad and we cozied in together! We will always work on his speech, but I don't need words to know he loves me!!!</i></div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 6px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i>The very next day the envy and loss hit me. <i>&nbsp;</i></span><i><span style="font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm outside jumping on the trampoline with Brandon and I just looked over at the neighbors' backyard and the dad is weed eating hi</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">s yard, and his young son is right behind him with his toy weed eater following his every footstep. I just made me feel sad for James because he bought Brandon a toy lawnmower a long time ago hoping for the same kind of scenario that never happened. James has so many happy moments as father and son with Brandon that he wouldn't trade for the world,</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">&nbsp;but in being honest about this whole autism situation, moments like this are a little bit heartbreaking. &nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A lot of our dreams are lost. We have a lot of new awesome dreams, and I can't imagine having any other child in this beautiful one in front of me, but sometimes these "comparing" moments can be sad.</span></i></div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 6px;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i>I went on to say,&nbsp;</span><i style="font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It also kind of makes my post previous to this both happy and sad. Happy because look how much joy I had last night, but sad because it was something so small to everyone else that I was jumping for joy about. Sometimes it just doesn't seem fair. And I know...I know that I'm the grand scheme of things my son is alive. He is happy and he is healthy and things could be so much worse. I'm just in this funk right now and my mind is traveling to dark places like what will happen when James and I are gone and waiting for this miracle where he talks and can live independently one day. I have to end this rant with saying that Brandon is the best thing that has ever happened to me! Words can never describe how much I love him and my family!</i></div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 6px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i>I have these feelings of sadness and frustration, then I feel bad for feeling that way. &nbsp; I am the luckiest mom in the world to have Brandon as my son. (There I go again!) &nbsp;I think about him being older, thriving, and looking at my blog or Facebook posts feeling like a burden. &nbsp;He is not a burden. &nbsp;I know that sharing my difficult&nbsp;experiences are often more helpful to other special needs moms even more than the happy ones. &nbsp;I can't stop helping others with my honesty, and it is therapeutic&nbsp;for myself to share. &nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Autism sure is full of high highs and low lows. &nbsp;The lows shatter my heart, but the highs...wow. &nbsp;The small things that we all take for granted in life can make my shattered heart feel like it will burst with love and excitement. &nbsp;I will not be embarrassed&nbsp;for being so excited&nbsp;about them!</span></div><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-l7sQXPqXrOc/VxvZYhgg82I/AAAAAAAAB_I/eJCP1EP1o5QshuNWHyxlqpEZhdXXs4rIgCCo/s279/signature.png" /></span>Rachael Shttps://plus.google.com/113022326268788572098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-938118120993209009.post-76459576274629243652017-06-20T20:05:00.001-05:002017-06-20T20:10:43.538-05:00Autism on an Airplane<span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">We are now home from our week long Florida vacation! &nbsp;Travel is&nbsp;stressful. &nbsp;Add&nbsp;autism to the mix, and it just amplifies it. &nbsp;I was very pleased with how Brandon did in the airport leaving home. &nbsp;We waited&nbsp;for the shuttle to&nbsp;take us from the parking&nbsp;lot to the terminal, and Brandon absolutely refused to get on the shuttle. &nbsp;I was not&nbsp;anticipating this reaction&nbsp;from him, as he had ridden buses and shuttles before. &nbsp;Whenever he refuses to budge we always say he "put on the brakes." &nbsp;Well, he put on the brakes over getting on this bus! &nbsp;I gestured and calmly told him, "We ARE getting on this bus." &nbsp;I tired to&nbsp;walk him up to no avail, while my husband is busy loading four giant suitcases. &nbsp;I finally had to&nbsp;hoist him under my arm&nbsp;like a sack of potatoes and carry him on. &nbsp;Once we got moving he settled right down. &nbsp;The bus driver was watching all of this unfold in the rearview mirror, and I could only imagine&nbsp;what he was thinking! &nbsp;He asked if our little one was okay, and I explained that Brandon has autism and didn't want to get on the bus - he didn't understand what was happening, but once it clicked he was fine. &nbsp;It turns out this man used to drive a special needs bus and was very familiar with these kinds of reactions.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">Side note: &nbsp;It's interesting to me how awareness has evolved even in just three years. &nbsp;Nearly every time I talk about autism,&nbsp;whoever I am talking to either has a family&nbsp;member, or know someone with autism. &nbsp;People&nbsp;just seem to get it (for the most part).</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">So, we flew Southwest and got "pre boarding" printed on Brandon's ticket. &nbsp;This allowed us to&nbsp;pre-board&nbsp;so that we would either get the very front row, or get a seat where James could sit in front of Brandon so that if someone was being kicked&nbsp;the whole time, at least it was one of us! &nbsp;They cannot require to us to show proof of disability, although, I always bring it with me to things like this just in case. &nbsp;I just don't want&nbsp;to mess with any delay at all. &nbsp;We take is high back booster with a five point harness on the plane. &nbsp;He put on the brakes again going into an&nbsp;aisle on the plane until his car seat was strapped in. &nbsp;I could not imagine flying without&nbsp;his car seat. &nbsp;There is no way I could&nbsp;physically&nbsp;make this six-year-old who is super strong for his age anyway, remain in a seat with standard airplane&nbsp;seatbelt&nbsp; &nbsp;Eventually&nbsp;I will likely have to look into harnesses specifically made for airplanes for people with special needs.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">Speaking of not having a car seat...</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">On the way back we left&nbsp;the car seat in our friend's car! &nbsp;Brandon was NOT having a good day, and just as we were about to go through security, we realized we forgot it. &nbsp;James had to go back to get it and we were forced to go through security&nbsp;without him and hope that he made it back before the flight took off. &nbsp;I cried through it. &nbsp;Not boo hoo sobs, but constant stream of tears. &nbsp;I have NEVER cried in public from having&nbsp;to deal with Brandon's behavior. &nbsp;I&nbsp;have cried&nbsp;in the car. I&nbsp;have cried when I got home. &nbsp;I have never stood there, in front of so many people, and just cried. &nbsp;But I guess there is a first for&nbsp;everything. &nbsp;One of the TSA associates asked me, "Why are you upset?" &nbsp;I think I just looked at her all doe eyed, speechless. &nbsp;She asked, "Are you late for your flight?" &nbsp;I just told her, "It's just been a hard day," and moved on. &nbsp;Thankfully, we got&nbsp;though it, tears and all, and James made it with the car seat for the flight home.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">All in all, it was a wonderful vacation with even more wonderful friends!</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qway9GYXti0/WUnD5D79n-I/AAAAAAAACUg/K2kHQlOwTewwpClfO-hN61vUaYjv57opwCLcBGAs/s1600/19399017_10104436157432125_204519472958069468_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qway9GYXti0/WUnD5D79n-I/AAAAAAAACUg/K2kHQlOwTewwpClfO-hN61vUaYjv57opwCLcBGAs/s640/19399017_10104436157432125_204519472958069468_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sjh7rkGhhKc/WUnD5R4oYnI/AAAAAAAACUk/vW29CdNpvWA2U5bbwh-Q0CgZbZPMUmucACLcBGAs/s1600/19399802_10104436157671645_2324975692629203712_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="539" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sjh7rkGhhKc/WUnD5R4oYnI/AAAAAAAACUk/vW29CdNpvWA2U5bbwh-Q0CgZbZPMUmucACLcBGAs/s640/19399802_10104436157671645_2324975692629203712_n.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-haVDGZo7hjc/WUnFxx74o5I/AAAAAAAACU8/qgk5FpwprhMYB6ksHGXhekodo5dhKap1QCLcBGAs/s1600/19275221_10104436157581825_7065204598655286441_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-haVDGZo7hjc/WUnFxx74o5I/AAAAAAAACU8/qgk5FpwprhMYB6ksHGXhekodo5dhKap1QCLcBGAs/s640/19275221_10104436157581825_7065204598655286441_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><br /><br /><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-l7sQXPqXrOc/VxvZYhgg82I/AAAAAAAAB_I/eJCP1EP1o5QshuNWHyxlqpEZhdXXs4rIgCCo/s279/signature.png" />Rachael Shttps://plus.google.com/113022326268788572098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-938118120993209009.post-56761158615133758942017-05-06T13:58:00.001-05:002017-05-06T13:58:26.710-05:00Batter Up!<br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Brandon has started his second season of baseball! &nbsp;We attended the ribbon cutting ceremony and opening day for a brand new local special needs playground and baseball field!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CSL5JcuAR3w/WQ4bvGWvX-I/AAAAAAAACS4/-mMyU4fYwPcnoex7RYDnYg180rsN4b4HACLcB/s1600/IMG_4145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CSL5JcuAR3w/WQ4bvGWvX-I/AAAAAAAACS4/-mMyU4fYwPcnoex7RYDnYg180rsN4b4HACLcB/s640/IMG_4145.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EXvqjtGbGs0/WQ4bvB9EqSI/AAAAAAAACS8/ur3bmt3DIEomeQciQwxOjMrd66IHagemgCLcB/s1600/IMG_4219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EXvqjtGbGs0/WQ4bvB9EqSI/AAAAAAAACS8/ur3bmt3DIEomeQciQwxOjMrd66IHagemgCLcB/s640/IMG_4219.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7zXi-xIv_RU/WQ4crflB3hI/AAAAAAAACTU/h9QthvXV07ApMGFhBFnr4F2c9-sjKpXvwCLcB/s1600/IMG_4247.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7zXi-xIv_RU/WQ4crflB3hI/AAAAAAAACTU/h9QthvXV07ApMGFhBFnr4F2c9-sjKpXvwCLcB/s640/IMG_4247.PNG" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nNfMHexxAi0/WQ4bvGlkruI/AAAAAAAACS0/4SQ9FkEtk0QmjtwlhNGGeJBLLz82GOzOgCLcB/s1600/IMG_4230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nNfMHexxAi0/WQ4bvGlkruI/AAAAAAAACS0/4SQ9FkEtk0QmjtwlhNGGeJBLLz82GOzOgCLcB/s640/IMG_4230.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6DCpv6cMJDA/WQ4bvf9EDUI/AAAAAAAACTA/EtDf4aDc2TMkoFKcaAJ3Q5hhHJi9dJG4ACLcB/s1600/IMG_4232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6DCpv6cMJDA/WQ4bvf9EDUI/AAAAAAAACTA/EtDf4aDc2TMkoFKcaAJ3Q5hhHJi9dJG4ACLcB/s640/IMG_4232.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6Xols8Gihl4/WQ4bvlOo_QI/AAAAAAAACTE/cxchIAiTMjUlfwUok82Ao9NfvXLvona4gCLcB/s1600/IMG_4239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6Xols8Gihl4/WQ4bvlOo_QI/AAAAAAAACTE/cxchIAiTMjUlfwUok82Ao9NfvXLvona4gCLcB/s640/IMG_4239.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-l7sQXPqXrOc/VxvZYhgg82I/AAAAAAAAB_I/eJCP1EP1o5QshuNWHyxlqpEZhdXXs4rIgCCo/s279/signature.png" />Rachael Shttps://plus.google.com/113022326268788572098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-938118120993209009.post-64739302739277357902017-05-06T13:34:00.000-05:002017-05-06T13:37:48.192-05:00Updates on Brandon's Development<br /><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">There has been a lot going on with Brandon&nbsp;lately, and I am well overdue for an update! &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">For the last three months, Brandon has been part of a clinical trial for an autism drug. &nbsp;We don't know whether he actually has the drug or if he is on&nbsp;the placebo. &nbsp;However, whether it is&nbsp;because of this drug or not, Brandon&nbsp;has made some major progress!</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">He has been far less self&nbsp;injurious. &nbsp;He used to hit himself, bit himself, hit his head on&nbsp;the floor, etc. &nbsp;At one point he was banging his feet so hard&nbsp;together, his feet were bruised and discolored with an orange tint. &nbsp;He still has behavioral issues, but they have drastically improved!</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">We still&nbsp;have serious safety&nbsp;concerns as far as elopement, which means Brandon will dart and run away from us. &nbsp;We be getting&nbsp;our autism service dog in December, and have ordered a&nbsp;special needs stroller to help us keep him safe.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">Brandon knows all the letters of his name, even when you show them to&nbsp;him out of order. &nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">He is also getting much closer to being able to count&nbsp;to ten on his own! &nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">His speech is coming a long way, but he is still very&nbsp;unintelligible, meaning he is very hard to understand. &nbsp;There are concerns of apraxia, and we will be looking further into that with his new speech therapist.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">We've confirmed that he does have ADHD. &nbsp;An&nbsp;extremely high number of people&nbsp;who have autism also have ADHD, so it's not a huge shock to us. &nbsp;We have suspected this for a while. &nbsp;It's impossible for me to separate his behaviors between ADHD and&nbsp;autism, but it's not really necessary at this time. &nbsp;We do not plan to medicate him for ADHD at this point, but we are not excluding this as a&nbsp;possibility for&nbsp;the future. &nbsp;So, nothing really changes for us with this new diagnosis. &nbsp;This just provides us with additional information.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">The biggest change is&nbsp;that Brandon starts Kindergarten next year! &nbsp;He will go to same school I&nbsp;teach at, and I couldn't be more thankful that I will be just down the hall from him! &nbsp;He will be in a Comprehensive&nbsp;Development Classroom (CDC), which is a special education classroom, but he will also spend time in the general education classroom where he can learn and play alongside his typically developing peers.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">So, there you have it! &nbsp;These are the things going on with Brandon's&nbsp;development right now, and I hope to update you soon with more exciting progress!</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">Check out this video of Brandon identifying letters!</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowFullScreen='true' webkitallowfullscreen='true' mozallowfullscreen='true' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz9RYBkGF6DTZI_iZqmDwlcUVmELcLI1f0jtsAvuBkncZEj_f5h5v10p6o9J9blXqn_wtjCFl3pWZZdDStIeQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' FRAMEBORDER='0' /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lFgi5n8gqaw/WQ4W71AnlNI/AAAAAAAACSI/KInTNS1nlRAH6hdayGMFzcMN20AwLJo2QCLcB/s1600/IMG_4041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lFgi5n8gqaw/WQ4W71AnlNI/AAAAAAAACSI/KInTNS1nlRAH6hdayGMFzcMN20AwLJo2QCLcB/s640/IMG_4041.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-l7sQXPqXrOc/VxvZYhgg82I/AAAAAAAAB_I/eJCP1EP1o5QshuNWHyxlqpEZhdXXs4rIgCCo/s279/signature.png" /><br /><span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 193px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 558px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 193px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 558px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 193px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 558px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 193px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 558px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span>Rachael Shttps://plus.google.com/113022326268788572098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-938118120993209009.post-75730529023326346032016-12-30T10:08:00.001-06:002016-12-30T10:08:37.492-06:00Sensory Santa<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Brandon got to see Santa this year! &nbsp;Thanks to a local therapy group (which we don't even use) Brandon was able to see Santa in a sensory-friendly, wait-free environment, not to mention cost-free, environment. &nbsp;I will always treasure this moment of Brandon playing with Santa's beard. &nbsp;This is an experience we would have missed out on if it weren't for people in our community volunteering their time to create special moments that special needs families so often miss out on.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vf-hB9m_Gws/WGaFaFhIV1I/AAAAAAAACO4/tseJJzEAZdwx7aY7_AMqwF6YsDMyswVrgCLcB/s1600/15589520_10103854363861105_7624074646261063204_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vf-hB9m_Gws/WGaFaFhIV1I/AAAAAAAACO4/tseJJzEAZdwx7aY7_AMqwF6YsDMyswVrgCLcB/s640/15589520_10103854363861105_7624074646261063204_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vlThvGGF_QY/WGaFaHHK63I/AAAAAAAACO8/R5932mdXH3MW_T9NtOLe7Wiu2_p-_8X_wCLcB/s1600/15622174_10103854385637465_1453073537290988831_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vlThvGGF_QY/WGaFaHHK63I/AAAAAAAACO8/R5932mdXH3MW_T9NtOLe7Wiu2_p-_8X_wCLcB/s640/15622174_10103854385637465_1453073537290988831_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-l7sQXPqXrOc/VxvZYhgg82I/AAAAAAAAB_I/eJCP1EP1o5QshuNWHyxlqpEZhdXXs4rIgCCo/s279/signature.png" /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Rachael Shttps://plus.google.com/113022326268788572098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-938118120993209009.post-11133031471900224302016-12-30T09:42:00.002-06:002016-12-30T09:55:13.484-06:00Our Home Sensory Room for Our Child with Autism<span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">My son, Brandon, is five and has autism. &nbsp;He is not interested in toys that typical five-year-olds love. &nbsp;He spends a lot of time walking on the edges of the couch, jumping on his mini trampoline, and standing in the&nbsp;window sill.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">We converted our office into a sensory room for him. &nbsp;We got lucky because we were able to use use the money we made selling our beautiful office&nbsp;furniture to help fund&nbsp;the room. &nbsp;We also use&nbsp;the sensory room for Applied&nbsp;Behavioral Analysis (ABA) Therapy. &nbsp;We put this together little by little, as we figured out what would be best to go in there.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l_4XCZaELHE/WGaDUeI_4DI/AAAAAAAACOw/d4cm1MlMCnAoHy2rGUcKQNv-PD7Ftj-OwCLcB/s1600/Home%2BSensory%2BRoom.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l_4XCZaELHE/WGaDUeI_4DI/AAAAAAAACOw/d4cm1MlMCnAoHy2rGUcKQNv-PD7Ftj-OwCLcB/s640/Home%2BSensory%2BRoom.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">First, I know a T.V. is not something you would typically find in a sensory room, but we play YouTube videos of aquariums, and he enjoys watching his favorite movies in there. &nbsp;My thought is that if it will calm him down and make him happy, it's okay for the&nbsp;sensory room. &nbsp;It doesn't really matter&nbsp;what is "supposed" to be in a sensory room. &nbsp;All that matters is what helps Brandon calm his body down. &nbsp;However, we have to be careful because T.V. can have the opposite effect and be overstimulating, causing meltdowns. &nbsp;It is rare for Brandon, but something we need to be&nbsp;conscious of.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">The&nbsp;Joki&nbsp;<b>swing</b> is his&nbsp;favorite thing. &nbsp;We&nbsp;initially had it it on a swing stand. &nbsp;It worked very well at first because we didn't have this sensory room set up and we put it in our dining room. &nbsp;It was convenient to be able to move it around when we needed to. &nbsp;When we moved it over to the sensory room it actually tipped over and thankfully I was&nbsp;there to catch it! &nbsp;We ended up mounting it to the&nbsp;ceiling with some tools from Home Depot. &nbsp;We bought a covered chain so we can raise it as he grows. &nbsp;It's not pictured here, but we also put an old exercise mat against the wall so we can push off the&nbsp;wall more comfortably.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">The <b>ball pit</b> is the same one we have in&nbsp;the&nbsp;sensory room at my church. &nbsp;Brandon is obsessed with it. &nbsp;But, I didn't want him by himself (with his adult buddy) in&nbsp;the sensory room, away from his typically developing peers just because he wanted to be in that ball pit. &nbsp;Santa brought him this ball pit for Christmas this year, which he got from <a href="https://funandfunction.com/" target="_blank">Fun and Function</a>. &nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">Their customer service is superb!</span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">&nbsp;&nbsp;I ordered the crush proof balls from Amazon&nbsp;because they were on sale for around $35.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">A <b>mini trampoline</b>&nbsp;can be found at most retailers. &nbsp;It's a must for my sensory seeking little monkey, and we've had it for years! &nbsp;Most autism families I know have one of&nbsp;these somewhere in their homes.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">The <b>bubble tube </b>was the most expensive part of this room. &nbsp;My mom went&nbsp;halvsies with me on it. &nbsp;It's called the "Budget Bubble Tube" from <a href="http://specialneedstoys.com/usa">specialneedstoys.com/usa</a>. &nbsp;We actually&nbsp;purchased it through a local shop who order from Special Needs Toys.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">We use&nbsp;the <b>table</b> for therapy sessions, which we got at a garage sale for five bucks. &nbsp;The curtains were only a couple dollars at Goodwill. &nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">The <b>Pea Pod </b>was something we bought from another special needs family who didn't need it anymore. &nbsp;With as much as everything else costs, it feels good to say I got a good deal on some of these things...even if they are smaller items!</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">The <b>Balance Stones</b> are one of my favorite things in the room. &nbsp;They can be found various places online. &nbsp;We got them from <a href="https://therapyinabin.com/products/balance-stones/" target="_blank">Therapy in a Bin.</a>&nbsp; Brandon walks on them bare foot, which makes me cringe.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">Finally, the&nbsp;Truffula trees from one of Brandon's&nbsp;favorite movies, <i>The Lorax, </i>are vinyls which&nbsp;came&nbsp;from a shop on Etsy.com.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rvFgqCLg2Zg/WGWhOdVksgI/AAAAAAAACOI/S4DqNwUira4ZrpuVScXBIcQmkQo0DbkCQCEw/s1600/15727030_10103876598392925_7180219533718043728_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rvFgqCLg2Zg/WGWhOdVksgI/AAAAAAAACOI/S4DqNwUira4ZrpuVScXBIcQmkQo0DbkCQCEw/s640/15727030_10103876598392925_7180219533718043728_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cgem5rY7lz4/WGWhOaI1kUI/AAAAAAAACOA/UcwASZkUpXgEpfA6URIPR3S6-5fVXU6KwCEw/s1600/15727117_10103876598477755_1577956616002549042_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cgem5rY7lz4/WGWhOaI1kUI/AAAAAAAACOA/UcwASZkUpXgEpfA6URIPR3S6-5fVXU6KwCEw/s640/15727117_10103876598477755_1577956616002549042_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ghl3kGtOWSo/WGWhOh1aUVI/AAAAAAAACOM/8SLQTBBozs4TNVvCPk6pBqdTbZGAuaTjwCEw/s1600/15741002_10103876598213285_4693478962540203507_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ghl3kGtOWSo/WGWhOh1aUVI/AAAAAAAACOM/8SLQTBBozs4TNVvCPk6pBqdTbZGAuaTjwCEw/s640/15741002_10103876598213285_4693478962540203507_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-l7sQXPqXrOc/VxvZYhgg82I/AAAAAAAAB_I/eJCP1EP1o5QshuNWHyxlqpEZhdXXs4rIgCCo/s279/signature.png" /><br /><span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 113px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 3973px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 113px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 3973px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 113px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 3973px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 113px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 3973px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; 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text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 3973px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span>Rachael Shttps://plus.google.com/113022326268788572098noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-938118120993209009.post-29398047576905356432016-08-21T09:24:00.000-05:002016-08-21T09:24:10.264-05:00Special Needs Day the the Fair: Volume 2<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Brandon turned five yesterday! &nbsp;We celebrated by going to Special Needs Day at&nbsp;the fair. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We joked that they threw a fair just for his birthday! &nbsp;My sister's birthday is on July 4th, and for&nbsp;the longest time she believed that every year the fireworks we went and watched at the lake were for her birthday!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.rachaelslough.com/2015/08/special-needs-day-at-fair.html" target="_blank">We went to the fair last year and we had a great time</a>. &nbsp;We had no major meltdowns last year, but he did have trouble waiting in line and&nbsp;having to get off the rides when they stopped. &nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since then we have been to</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.rachaelslough.com/2015/10/autism-at-dollywood-our-dollywood.html" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Dollywood</a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.rachaelslough.com/2016/07/autism-at-disney-magic-kingdom.html" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Disney World,</a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">so going&nbsp;to the fair this year was not&nbsp;nerve-wracking. &nbsp;He knows the theme-park drill for the most part.</span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm in awe of Brandon's progression in the last year. &nbsp;It still feels slow moving, and while <a href="http://www.rachaelslough.com/2015/12/maybe-next-year.html" target="_blank">annual events can be a heartbreaking reminder,</a>&nbsp;they can also help to keep that progress in perspective.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This year the lines were shorter, but he stood an waited his turn with no issue. &nbsp;We walked around the fair and Brandon barely needed the stroller. &nbsp;The deal with the stroller is not so much that he gets tired of walking, but it's a secure place he can be buckled in when he is feeling&nbsp;overwhelmed by his&nbsp;surroundings. &nbsp;He will go to the&nbsp;stroller or "ask" to be picked up by putting his arms up and climbing up my body like I'm a tree. &nbsp;He does this&nbsp;in a panicky way, almost like he is scared or very nervous. &nbsp;When we were walking around, there were large chunks of time where I&nbsp;didn't even hold his hand. &nbsp;He walked by my side, and once when he start to gallop off instead of running after him (which is my usual reaction) I just said, "Stop!" &nbsp;And&nbsp;guess what...he ACTUALLY STOPPED! &nbsp;And he stood and waited for me to catch up to him.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I even let Brandon go on some rides with his cousin who is&nbsp;typically developing and about a year older than Brandon. &nbsp;There were some rides that were for children only - moms and dads were not allowed on. &nbsp;Last year I would have said, "Hell no he cannot go on a ride without one of us." If he wanted off that ride while it was in mid-swing, he could just jump right out if he really wanted to. &nbsp;This year I trusted his&nbsp;understanding to stay on the ride. &nbsp;There was just one kiddie roller coaster that I said he couldn't go on again without me because I thought I was going to throw up, I was so nervous that he would jump out. &nbsp;Right before it took off, I told my nephew that if&nbsp;Brandon&nbsp;was trying&nbsp;to get out to hold his arm as tight as he could...even if it hurt him. &nbsp;That is WAY too much pressure to put on a little kid. &nbsp;Mommy/aunt mistake, there. &nbsp;I was a nervous wreck on that one! &nbsp;The rest of the rides were so tame that I wasn't worried.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is the ride I'm talking about. &nbsp;See how the bar&nbsp;doesn't go down on&nbsp;their laps? &nbsp;There was a&nbsp;seatbelt...but still. &nbsp;If Brandon really wanted to, he could unbuckle that seatbelt and hop out. I know I&nbsp;sound&nbsp;paranoid. &nbsp;But when you have a five-year-old child who is so developmentally delayed, you can't assume&nbsp;that reasoning is there...especially&nbsp;if he is in panic mode.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2VPuIWwkNpA/V7m0WcoYobI/AAAAAAAACLY/iSCUvEO7YWEQhdIG74x75WvCU2MzQ7VNgCLcB/s1600/14100489_10103513964314525_253743451310094409_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2VPuIWwkNpA/V7m0WcoYobI/AAAAAAAACLY/iSCUvEO7YWEQhdIG74x75WvCU2MzQ7VNgCLcB/s640/14100489_10103513964314525_253743451310094409_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are some more pictures of our day at the fair!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CL_6VSYEqhI/V7m178zhAoI/AAAAAAAACLk/tzGds4Z11nYTvJoxdrcKcAiOSGWjbos5QCLcB/s1600/14022297_10103513953226745_4110960177003122492_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CL_6VSYEqhI/V7m178zhAoI/AAAAAAAACLk/tzGds4Z11nYTvJoxdrcKcAiOSGWjbos5QCLcB/s640/14022297_10103513953226745_4110960177003122492_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PvldT5aqCqk/V7m17yRLJjI/AAAAAAAACLo/lcHNEauFmgEDt9HhEmRB5AqJNEvoT5jFACLcB/s1600/14089204_10103513964244665_517801297264387081_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PvldT5aqCqk/V7m17yRLJjI/AAAAAAAACLo/lcHNEauFmgEDt9HhEmRB5AqJNEvoT5jFACLcB/s640/14089204_10103513964244665_517801297264387081_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6_fUnoMrpHA/V7m21pUbJrI/AAAAAAAACL0/DgDnnokQTuYAkjzt3qfhAeFsazcz2tS4ACLcB/s1600/IMG_1379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6_fUnoMrpHA/V7m21pUbJrI/AAAAAAAACL0/DgDnnokQTuYAkjzt3qfhAeFsazcz2tS4ACLcB/s640/IMG_1379.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1gOzlb8FHz0/V7m21vZ4eiI/AAAAAAAACL8/hu7y2ynqAUcF_-7k51RTdEb2RPqWeXvngCLcB/s1600/IMG_1393.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1gOzlb8FHz0/V7m21vZ4eiI/AAAAAAAACL8/hu7y2ynqAUcF_-7k51RTdEb2RPqWeXvngCLcB/s640/IMG_1393.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tX64-fgZSyM/V7m21suXtZI/AAAAAAAACL4/aZMkzEQDEsw0ljKQKkUaC08rcjmLeqEiwCLcB/s1600/IMG_1394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tX64-fgZSyM/V7m21suXtZI/AAAAAAAACL4/aZMkzEQDEsw0ljKQKkUaC08rcjmLeqEiwCLcB/s640/IMG_1394.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AxnYUIM_zIo/V7m228PK5aI/AAAAAAAACMA/O2pL1lWGeIkfl5lHIV8p_N3NLk2CKm93ACLcB/s1600/IMG_1398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AxnYUIM_zIo/V7m228PK5aI/AAAAAAAACMA/O2pL1lWGeIkfl5lHIV8p_N3NLk2CKm93ACLcB/s640/IMG_1398.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Luwlf_OUrOY/V7m23UVPkaI/AAAAAAAACME/nyVLQc6wwtgZhyOGYTPTYJDZTo971CxoACLcB/s1600/IMG_1416.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Luwlf_OUrOY/V7m23UVPkaI/AAAAAAAACME/nyVLQc6wwtgZhyOGYTPTYJDZTo971CxoACLcB/s640/IMG_1416.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br /><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-l7sQXPqXrOc/VxvZYhgg82I/AAAAAAAAB_I/eJCP1EP1o5QshuNWHyxlqpEZhdXXs4rIgCCo/s279/signature.png" /><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 113px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 4706px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 113px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 4706px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></span>Rachael Shttps://plus.google.com/113022326268788572098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-938118120993209009.post-59830328285391502692016-07-29T20:46:00.001-05:002016-07-31T16:12:01.382-05:00When a young man told me he was sorry my son has autism<span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">I went to the grocery store this evening. &nbsp;It was one of&nbsp;those trips without a&nbsp;shopping list, so I was walking up and down the aisles of Publix getting things I forgot the first time I went down that aisle. &nbsp;I finally got everything I needed, and of course I picked&nbsp;the line with the coupon issues. &nbsp;Brandon made a ton of noise and some of his&nbsp;quirky body movements as we waited our turn. &nbsp;He was happy though, and that's all I can ask for in&nbsp;that situation.</span><br><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">As the cashier was&nbsp;ringing me out, the bagger asked Brandon if he&nbsp;would like a sticker. &nbsp;Brandon isn't able to respond to something like that, so I&nbsp;helped him out. &nbsp;I said, "He&nbsp;would love a sticker." &nbsp;The bagger looked a little puzzled, so I&nbsp;explained that Brandon has autism, and he isn't able to speak well enough to tell you that we would like one. &nbsp;I know he would love one&nbsp;though. &nbsp;I then&nbsp;realized his puzzled look was actually that he was looking for the stickers. &nbsp;He replied, "I'm&nbsp;sorry." &nbsp;So I said brightly, "Oh,&nbsp;are you out of stickers?" &nbsp;He said "No, they're right here." &nbsp;<b>My face fell as it hit me that he was saying he was sorry that my son has autism.</b></span><br><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">I could have gone off on him. &nbsp;I&nbsp;wanted to. &nbsp;I could have shamed him by&nbsp;saying, "I'm not sorry about my son. &nbsp;Don't say you're sorry. &nbsp;My son is fearfully and wonderfully made, and my son is nothing to apologize for."</span><br><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">But I&nbsp;didn't.</span><br><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">I just smiled and said thank you for the sticker.</span><br><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">He asked if I&nbsp;would like help out to my car, and I told him I would. &nbsp;He then asked me if my son would be okay with him pushing the cart. &nbsp;It was very thoughtful of him to consider that it might upset him. &nbsp;I&nbsp;told him that he would be fine, and that I appreciated him considering that. &nbsp;I started thinking I was&nbsp;kind of glad I didn't go off on him.&nbsp;</span><br><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Walking out to the car, this bagger told my son to steer him in&nbsp;the right direction of the car. &nbsp;(We were in one of those kid's car carts.) &nbsp;As he put everything in my trunk, I started buckling Brandon in his carseat. &nbsp;Brandon was already in&nbsp;the car, and couldn't really see him anymore, but the young man called out, "Bye Brandon!" with a huge grin on his face and his hand&nbsp;waving in the air.</span><br><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">My head darted up in surprise, and I smiled at him as he walked the cart back into the store. &nbsp;My eyes immediately&nbsp;welled up with tears at this awkward goodbye from this grocery store bagger who had just hurt my feelings minutes before.</span><br><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Consider this. &nbsp;If I had attacked this young&nbsp;man for his "I'm sorry" comment, it is clear that it would have crushed him. &nbsp;He&nbsp;would have gone&nbsp;home tonight feeling&nbsp;awful, and would&nbsp;probably vow to himself to shy away from any other autism families he meets. &nbsp;For nothing could feel worse than&nbsp;upsetting a mother like&nbsp;that, and he wouldn't want&nbsp;to get publicly shamed again. &nbsp;Many special needs parents get their feelings hurt and are quick to blast someone for a&nbsp;thoughtless comment. &nbsp;(And I am not talking about those cruel people who have&nbsp;deliberate unkind things to say. &nbsp;Those people are a totally different story...I'll go off on those folks all day long.) &nbsp;The other thing we do is not say something, and then lay&nbsp;awake half the night seething about the comment, and what we wish we had said. &nbsp;</span><br><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">B<b>efore your child had autism, did you know the perfect thing to say to a&nbsp;special needs parent? </b>&nbsp;I'm sure you didn't. &nbsp;To be perfectly honest, I still don't. &nbsp;I have several&nbsp;friends who have children with special needs, and since children are so different (especially those with autism), I'm sure I have said the wrong things. &nbsp;My closest friends and even my own family have hurt my feelings with comments they have made. &nbsp;We need&nbsp;to have grace with people we come across so we can educate them as best we can in those fleeting moments. &nbsp;This young man at Publix didn't know what to say. &nbsp;He said the wrong thing, and it's very likely he had no idea that he had done so. &nbsp;Giving him grace in that moment allowed me to see what a kind heart he had, and the effort he made to connect with this little boy he just met.</span><br><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RtQeEereNjQ/V5wF791q-kI/AAAAAAAACKg/Wvs-F4wtLuIvjC0herS8eoX3dxAWsBnlQCLcB/s1600/13627164_748046042005237_8231211092974963165_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RtQeEereNjQ/V5wF791q-kI/AAAAAAAACKg/Wvs-F4wtLuIvjC0herS8eoX3dxAWsBnlQCLcB/s640/13627164_748046042005237_8231211092974963165_n.jpg" width="480"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-l7sQXPqXrOc/VxvZYhgg82I/AAAAAAAAB_I/eJCP1EP1o5QshuNWHyxlqpEZhdXXs4rIgCCo/s279/signature.png">Rachael Shttps://plus.google.com/113022326268788572098noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-938118120993209009.post-25260996161016150022016-07-28T20:07:00.003-05:002016-07-28T20:23:21.339-05:00Am I Doing the Right Things?<span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Several months ago, James (my&nbsp;husband) and I went to an aggressive behavior workshop. &nbsp;Brandon was becoming more and more&nbsp;aggressive. &nbsp;He&nbsp;would bite, hit, and kick adults and himself. &nbsp;He never became aggressive towards other children, which I am thankful for. &nbsp;He&nbsp;would become frustrated, and take it out on himself, his parents, or teachers. &nbsp;Sometimes he&nbsp;would meltdown for what seemed like no reason. &nbsp;I</span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">t's not like I can pinpoint the exact trigger for every single meltdown, but typically I can determine what <i>likely</i> set him off. &nbsp;At this&nbsp;workshop, the psychologist brought up&nbsp;seizure activity - not in relation to our specific issues, but as a part of the workshop. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">It got me wondering...could theses&nbsp;seemingly&nbsp;sporadic meltdowns be something more? &nbsp;I didn't think so, but as time went on I&nbsp;just kept thinking, "What if?" &nbsp;What if there was seizure activity going on and we don't get it checked out. &nbsp;What if we find out five years from now that he was having seizures that were delaying&nbsp;his development, and we didn't do&nbsp;anything about it. &nbsp;That was enough to schedule the appointment for an EEG.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">I think that is a fear for a lot of autism parents. &nbsp;We are constantly wondering if we are doing the right thing by our child. &nbsp;I know all parents wonder that. &nbsp;But I'm talking about making decisions that can drastically impact his quality of life, especially considering that all the research shows that early&nbsp;intervention is key.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">These are the kings of things that rattle around in my brain while I'm trying to fall asleep:&nbsp;</span><br /><i><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">He starts Kindergarten in one year. &nbsp;Is public school good enough? &nbsp;Well, I mean, of course it is...at least where he would go. &nbsp;I teach in a public school, and it is wonderful. &nbsp;Should I push for him to be in a general education classroom? &nbsp;Should he have a one-on-one aid as part of his supplemental ads and&nbsp;services to get him in the least restrictive&nbsp;environment? &nbsp;But what if&nbsp;pushing for him to be in a gen. ed. class is actually more restrictive for him? &nbsp;What if an aid is&nbsp;more restrictive? &nbsp;What if kids make fun of him? &nbsp;What if he can't defend himself. &nbsp;Okay, what about private school? &nbsp;He would get a lot more one-on-one attention from his teacher. &nbsp;Are&nbsp;there even any private schools around here that can accommodate a "not&nbsp;functional verbal" child with autism? &nbsp;Is he even considered low functioning? &nbsp;I mean, he is smart, but he still isn't talking... &nbsp;Okay, there is a private school for special needs. &nbsp;I'm still running into the same issues in my head...is he "high functioning" enough to go there? &nbsp;It's fancy. &nbsp;It's too far away to drive there every day. &nbsp;We would definitely have&nbsp;to move. &nbsp;Is this the best speech therapist for him? &nbsp;The best occupational&nbsp;therapist? &nbsp;The behavioral therapist? &nbsp;I should have gone private with&nbsp;speech earlier. &nbsp;Is it really the best thing for him to have his mom working full time? &nbsp;Am I too&nbsp;hard on him? &nbsp;Am I too easy on him? &nbsp;Do I give him enough attention at&nbsp;home? &nbsp;If I tried harder, maybe he would be progressing more.</span></i><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">I know I am a good mom, but I'm&nbsp;certainly not perfect. &nbsp;It's&nbsp;just that right now we're sitting in this limbo, where we don't&nbsp;know what is&nbsp;going to happen. &nbsp;Brandon will be five in a few weeks. &nbsp;He has the chance to fall&nbsp;anywhere in this range from being non-verbal to becoming completely verbal. &nbsp;We've been waiting for three years, wondering every single day how he will progress with his speech. &nbsp;All we can do is sit here and wait, and trust in God's plan for us and for Brandon.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">So, the EEG itself took about 30 minutes, and it came&nbsp;back normal. &nbsp;We talked to the pediatric&nbsp;neurologist in&nbsp;depth before the EEG so he could understand what we were&nbsp;seeing with Brandon. &nbsp;We have to keep an eye on these&nbsp;seemingly untriggered meltdowns, but we&nbsp;think, and the doctor agrees, that it's rooted in behavior.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_82Zij2RVKs/V5qhfZhq5GI/AAAAAAAACJs/-9O2eTVKtpcDdJ7Yr6jbSI153hqcs5nlACEw/s1600/IMG_1134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_82Zij2RVKs/V5qhfZhq5GI/AAAAAAAACJs/-9O2eTVKtpcDdJ7Yr6jbSI153hqcs5nlACEw/s640/IMG_1134.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wrmer63vghc/V5qhfcCUKCI/AAAAAAAACJw/JUH1WkClO3cukoU-UGUkDX--6RD2Ur2JgCEw/s1600/IMG_1135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wrmer63vghc/V5qhfcCUKCI/AAAAAAAACJw/JUH1WkClO3cukoU-UGUkDX--6RD2Ur2JgCEw/s640/IMG_1135.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ajzIpicdBHM/V5qhg4N22TI/AAAAAAAACJ0/pGs77awGbXUGDJTpsL7_UXCqoZzrxDrIACEw/s1600/IMG_1129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ajzIpicdBHM/V5qhg4N22TI/AAAAAAAACJ0/pGs77awGbXUGDJTpsL7_UXCqoZzrxDrIACEw/s640/IMG_1129.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o0bezEi666Q/V5qhhKVGP6I/AAAAAAAACJ4/XrhJSQTMvgknCsPmBHojOOSldae9YN6NQCEw/s1600/IMG_1133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o0bezEi666Q/V5qhhKVGP6I/AAAAAAAACJ4/XrhJSQTMvgknCsPmBHojOOSldae9YN6NQCEw/s640/IMG_1133.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-l7sQXPqXrOc/VxvZYhgg82I/AAAAAAAAB_I/eJCP1EP1o5QshuNWHyxlqpEZhdXXs4rIgCCo/s279/signature.png" />Rachael Shttps://plus.google.com/113022326268788572098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-938118120993209009.post-17301801674450162892016-07-26T11:30:00.000-05:002016-07-26T11:30:13.588-05:00Drab to Fab: Spray Painting an Old Filing Cabinet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PmgJKU9EVsk/V5eCOiKwYlI/AAAAAAAACIo/4ypYqQpAFK4kMQQsn-3_aTmHtTdKzUZHQCLcB/s1600/Untitled%2Bdesign.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PmgJKU9EVsk/V5eCOiKwYlI/AAAAAAAACIo/4ypYqQpAFK4kMQQsn-3_aTmHtTdKzUZHQCLcB/s640/Untitled%2Bdesign.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">&nbsp;inherited this old, ugly, scratch, dented, written-on-in-sharpie, filing cabinet. &nbsp;I am not really big on filing cabinets because I keep&nbsp;everything saved on my computer. &nbsp;However, I have several word sorts, experiential learning items, and other&nbsp;reusable things I have made, and I need a place to store them!</span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>1) Prepare the Cabinet</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Wipe down the filing&nbsp;cabinet with a disinfecting wipe or wet paper towel to get all of the dust off. &nbsp;There is no need&nbsp;to sand it. &nbsp;Tape any parts of&nbsp;the cabinet with painters tape that you don't want paint to get on. &nbsp;In my case it was&nbsp;the keyhole. &nbsp;I always paint outside so I have the best&nbsp;ventilation possible, however, I do not recommend painting outside if it's cold. &nbsp;The paint tends to shrivel up in really cold temperatures.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>2) &nbsp;Remove&nbsp;the Hardware</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Take each drawer out and remove all&nbsp;the&nbsp;hardware. &nbsp;On this cabinet,&nbsp;there is a panel on the back of each drawer face. &nbsp;It easily popped off, revealing&nbsp;the bolts you need to remove to take off the hardware. &nbsp;You will nee a socket wrench or adjustable wrench to get these bolts off. &nbsp;Don't let this part freak you out. &nbsp;As long as you have the right tools, it's very easy. &nbsp;If you have let that part freak you out, take a&nbsp;picture of it, go to a hardware store, and ask an associate what&nbsp;you need to get it off. &nbsp;To take off the label frame, just use a pair of pliers to bend the metal slightly (not too hard or you might break it) and slide it out.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>3) Prime</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You need to prime the cabinet. &nbsp;You need to get a white paint and primer, found with all the other spray paint. &nbsp;I did two coats on this filing cabinet so the blue paint would look even. &nbsp;Don't forget to prime all parts of the filing cabinet that can be seen...including the edges between the drawers. &nbsp;I typically buy my spray paint at Walmart. &nbsp;The price is low and they have a huge selection. &nbsp;I&nbsp;prefer&nbsp;to use the brand <i>Krylon</i> because it is less messy. &nbsp;Other brands&nbsp;have a lot of excess spray that gets all over your hands, feet, and floor.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>4) Paint!</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After you let&nbsp;the primer dry for about 15&nbsp;minutes between coats, you can start spraying&nbsp;with your color. &nbsp;I did two full coats on this filing cabinet, allowing&nbsp;about an hour of drying time in between. &nbsp;I touched it up a little after that second coat, so more like two-and-a-half coats. &nbsp;I used a little less than three cans. &nbsp;Allowing it to dry is important so you can see how evenly the paint is on there.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>5) Allow for Dry Time</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This is very&nbsp;important, and can feel like the hardest part! &nbsp;You want to get your finished product all set up, but it's important to let the paint dry completely. &nbsp;Any time I paint something, I like to let it sit for a couple days before I mess with it...especially&nbsp;before I set anything on top of it. &nbsp;You should be safe to put the drawers in after a couple hours, though.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Other tips I've picked up along the way:</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Use a painter's mask to keep from breathing in paint</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Shake the cans very well before spraying</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Use a cardboard moving box to put under the cabinet. &nbsp;It makes it&nbsp;easy to turn your cabinet around if you need a different angle of light or to spray with the wind rather than against it</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- When opening a new can,&nbsp;spray the first spray out on the cardboard to make sure there is a good flow of paint</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- I always start with a side that&nbsp;won't be seen. &nbsp;For example, with this I started with&nbsp;the backside. &nbsp;It takes me a minute to get into a good rhythm of spraying, so I like to start out with a side I don't care as much about.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I&nbsp;made some labels on Word to add some extra&nbsp;cuteness to my filing cabinet!</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ifCMuesJeIc/V5eI5JfMGVI/AAAAAAAACJU/4u9nL3WCoxcfywDbHu_GkGJ2c73nRgklwCLcB/s1600/Untitled%2Bdesign-2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="514" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ifCMuesJeIc/V5eI5JfMGVI/AAAAAAAACJU/4u9nL3WCoxcfywDbHu_GkGJ2c73nRgklwCLcB/s640/Untitled%2Bdesign-2.png" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This is the color I used for this cabinet. &nbsp;It's&nbsp;Krylon Blue&nbsp;Ocean Breeze.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Cteolesdlqo/V5eBGGIkUAI/AAAAAAAACIw/Cp9Z8hOzqp8GbjOPPWbttJcLSqjZA-f9QCEw/s1600/IMG_1193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Cteolesdlqo/V5eBGGIkUAI/AAAAAAAACIw/Cp9Z8hOzqp8GbjOPPWbttJcLSqjZA-f9QCEw/s640/IMG_1193.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">These are my other favorite spray painting colors</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">&nbsp;that I've used in my classroom. :)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gm8TpOTRYmU/V5eIFOrzmlI/AAAAAAAACJM/XCoPGqKFwGEijcm5zFTVoVC2PmxK49C5QCLcB/s1600/IMG_0311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gm8TpOTRYmU/V5eIFOrzmlI/AAAAAAAACJM/XCoPGqKFwGEijcm5zFTVoVC2PmxK49C5QCLcB/s640/IMG_0311.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><br /><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-l7sQXPqXrOc/VxvZYhgg82I/AAAAAAAAB_I/eJCP1EP1o5QshuNWHyxlqpEZhdXXs4rIgCCo/s279/signature.png" />Rachael Shttps://plus.google.com/113022326268788572098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-938118120993209009.post-63058159488742260182016-07-05T09:29:00.000-05:002016-07-05T09:32:53.999-05:00Autism at Disney<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zaai_WLwhXU/V3aB2rEJkjI/AAAAAAAACD4/1YpYceOYjB0QUTckkVmdn2ZypUlPVkRNQCLcB/s1600/Our%2BAutism%2BExperience%2Bat%2BDisney.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zaai_WLwhXU/V3aB2rEJkjI/AAAAAAAACD4/1YpYceOYjB0QUTckkVmdn2ZypUlPVkRNQCLcB/s640/Our%2BAutism%2BExperience%2Bat%2BDisney.png" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">We went to Disney! &nbsp;This was my very first time! &nbsp;We decided to go for just one day and go to Magic Kingdom. &nbsp;By the end of&nbsp;the day, I couldn't imagine&nbsp;waking&nbsp;up the next day and doing it all over again. &nbsp;It was mentally and physically exhausting...but so worth it! &nbsp;We went to Magic Kingdom for&nbsp;the day, then headed to the beach for the rest of&nbsp;the week. &nbsp;Going to Disney the first day rather than after the&nbsp;time at the beach was important. &nbsp;Being off routine for&nbsp;that long is draining for anyone, but for someone with autism it can be devastating.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I have a pretty cool network of special needs moms. &nbsp;I belong to a local Facebook group that I was able to reach out to for some tips for taking my autistic son to Disney. &nbsp;There is also a Facebook&nbsp;group called &nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/Tipsforspecialneedsatdisney/" target="_blank">Tips for Special Needs at Disney</a> full of useful tips from special needs families.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Before I begin with my own tips, here's Disney's official guide for Services for Guests with Cognitive Disability, including Autism Spectrum as well as the official information about the Disability Access Service Card.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><a href="https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/cognitive-disabilities-services/">https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/cognitive-disabilities-services/</a><br /><br /><a href="https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/disney-parks-disability-access-service-card-fact-sheet/">https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/disney-parks-disability-access-service-card-fact-sheet/</a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Tickets, FastPass+, and DAS Card</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">We did not stay at a Disney Resort, so we did not have the Magic Bands. &nbsp;I would love to do that next time though! &nbsp;We purchased tickets online, which are like little credit cards or room keys. &nbsp;You can purchase tickets in advance and have them mailed to you at no charge (</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">as long as you order with enough time for the shipping). &nbsp;Download the </span><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/my-disney-experience-walt/id547436543?mt=8" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">My Disney Experience</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">&nbsp;app and assign a ticket to each member of your family. &nbsp;You need this app! Plus it's free! &nbsp;You can plan your whole trip by reserving your FastPass+</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">&nbsp;options, make dining reservations, look up wait times for rides, and more. &nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The My Disney Experience app will keep track of&nbsp;everything you signed up for. &nbsp;I got confused a couple times and couldn't&nbsp;remember what we were doing and whether it was&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">FastPass+ or DAS</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">. &nbsp;Thankfully, it was all right there!</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">You get three&nbsp;<span style="font-family: inherit;">FastPass+</span>&nbsp;experiences for each ticket. &nbsp;This comes at no extra cost, which I thought was pretty awesome! &nbsp;You can choose these&nbsp;<span style="font-family: inherit;">FastPass+ experiences</span>&nbsp;in advance and you have to get to that ride within a one hour window that you signed up for. &nbsp;This is different than the Disability Access Services (DAS) Card and they can be used&nbsp;simultaneously. &nbsp;The DAS card will be tied to the persons ticket/card who has&nbsp;the disability. &nbsp;Write names in sharpie on each card. &nbsp;When you enter the park, make sure each person has their own ticket (you've already&nbsp;assigned them in the app) because they will take your finger print. &nbsp;This is only really important if you want to re-enter the park later. &nbsp;You need this ticket/card to ride each ride. &nbsp;The ticket for&nbsp;</span>the<span style="font-family: inherit;">&nbsp;person with the disability is really important to&nbsp;have the name on because when enter a ride using the DAS pass/card you will have to swipe that card first. &nbsp;They do that because the person with the disability has to be on&nbsp;the ride for you to use the pass (makes sense). &nbsp;You don't want to be fumbling through all the cards to see which one works when&nbsp;there is a line of impatient people behind you!&nbsp;&nbsp;To get the DAS pass/card you just go to Guest Services and they set it up for you on the card you already have. &nbsp;You can't set up DAS before you get to the park. &nbsp;The guy who helped us was&nbsp;</span>extremely<span style="font-family: inherit;">&nbsp;friendly. &nbsp;We did not have to show a doctor's note or diagnosis paperwork. &nbsp;He also set up our first DAS experience without us having to go to the ride itself. &nbsp;Let me explain...</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Okay, here is how the&nbsp;<span style="font-family: -webkit-standard;">FastPass+</span>&nbsp;and the DAS pass can work together. &nbsp;I&nbsp;signed up for the three&nbsp;<span style="font-family: inherit;">FastPass+</span>&nbsp;Experiences for my whole family using that My Disney Experience App. &nbsp;You can do this up to 30 days in advance. &nbsp;There were nine of us total. &nbsp;I did Splash Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, and the Haunted Mansion. &nbsp;I&nbsp;spaced them out throughout the day. &nbsp;When we got to the park the guy at Guest Services made my son with autism, Brandon's, card the DAS card. &nbsp;He signed us up for the 7 Dwarfs Mine Train, at my request, and gave us the run down of how the card works. &nbsp;The DAS Card essentially does this: &nbsp;You go to a ride and tell the person at the gate that you have the Disability Access Service Card and that you need to sign up for the ride. &nbsp;If the wait time is, say, currently 60 minutes, it&nbsp;essentially "holds your place in line" so that you can&nbsp;just come back in 60 minutes (or ANY&nbsp;time after 60&nbsp;minutes so don't worry about dragging your kid up there to be on time if you're mid-meltdown) and do&nbsp;something else while you wait, versus standing in that line. &nbsp;But don't forget that it&nbsp;just for DAS...if you're using the&nbsp;<span style="font-family: inherit;">FastPass+</span>&nbsp;you <i>have</i> to be there in the one hour window. &nbsp;Keep track of it in the My Disney Experience app. &nbsp;You can eat, use the restroom, go hit up some shade, go do one of your&nbsp;<span style="font-family: inherit;">FastPass+</span>&nbsp;rides you singed up for, etc. &nbsp;When you come back, you just go straight to the&nbsp;<span style="font-family: inherit;">FastPass+</span>&nbsp;line like you would with your regular&nbsp;<span style="font-family: inherit;">FastPass+</span>&nbsp;experience. &nbsp;Your DAS Card sign up CAN overlap with&nbsp;<span style="font-family: -webkit-standard;">FastPass+</span>&nbsp; so be strategic. &nbsp;Also, <i>anyone</i> in your party can sign you up for the DAS Pass&nbsp;experience. &nbsp;You just have to&nbsp;have the person&nbsp;with he disability with you when you ride the ride. &nbsp;For example, my Dad did not&nbsp;want to ride the 7 Dwarfs Mine Train with us (because it scared him...seriously...what a baby!) so he went and signed all nine of us up with his own card as soon as we entered the 7 Dwarfs Mine Train ride. &nbsp;You cannot be signed up for two DAS experiences at&nbsp;the same time. &nbsp;You cannot sign up for&nbsp;the next one until you have already used the one you are currently signed up for. &nbsp;So my dad had to wait until my son's was scanned to go in before signing up for the other one.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">You can&nbsp;<a href="https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/disney-parks-disability-access-service-card-fact-sheet/" target="_blank">click here for the&nbsp;information straight from Disney about the DAS Pass</a>. &nbsp;I thought I understood it all before going, but when I got there I realized I didn't. &nbsp;It wasn't hard&nbsp;to figure out how to use both the&nbsp;<span style="font-family: -webkit-standard;">FastPass+</span>&nbsp;and DAS pass together in the most effective way, but I hope&nbsp;that my "ramblings" above will help make it easier to understand before the actual trip.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Another thing you can do to help with the waiting, is <a href="https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/rider-switch/" target="_blank">Rider Switch</a>:</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">As per Disney's website, "<span style="background-color: white;">If a child does not meet the height requirement or a Guest does not wish to board a particular attraction, no problem! With Rider Switch, one adult can wait with the non-rider (or riders) while the rest of the party enjoys the attraction. When the other adult returns, they can supervise the non-riding Guests, and the waiting adult can board the attraction without having to wait in the regular line again!"&nbsp;</span>&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">We did not utilize this, but I chatted with a lady in line about it. &nbsp;She was&nbsp;using&nbsp;it because they had an infant with them, so it's not just for special needs&nbsp;situations. &nbsp;You can read more&nbsp;about it here:</span><br /><a href="https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/rider-switch/">https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/rider-switch/</a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Getting There</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">We went in late June. &nbsp;This is a peak time to go, so the time we went was one of the busiest. &nbsp;I have never been to Disney World, so I don't have anything to compare it to as far as how crowded it was. &nbsp;I hope I can go during an off-peak season next time so I can see the difference. &nbsp;We didn't get to Magic Kingdom until 10:00 a.m., even though it opens at 8:00 a.m. and there was very little waiting to get in. &nbsp;I imagine that if you get there right when it opens there is a lot of waiting to get in. &nbsp;We rode a little tram from the parking lot ($20 to park) up to Magic Kingdom, then rode a monorail to the entrance of the park. There was very little waiting for either of these. &nbsp;As far as entering the park, there was literally no wait there either. &nbsp;We just walked right in with our tickets. &nbsp;Now, I had no idea about the finger printing thing, so I handed him all our tickets at once and it was pretty much a hot mess. &nbsp;The guy was nice about it though. &nbsp;I also got pulled for a random security check. &nbsp;I had my sister hold my almost five-year-old autistic son's hand while I walked through. &nbsp;He got a little nervous (and I should have anticipated that) but it didn't take long at all (I just walked through a metal detector), so thankfully I got back to him before he had time to get upset. &nbsp;Also, they do check bags before you walk though. &nbsp;I handed our bag to my husband and walked in with my son so he wouldn't have to wait. &nbsp;On a side note...my Kavu bag was perfect for Disney and for keeping with me on all the rides! &nbsp;I highly recommend one of those! &nbsp;It was much easier to ride with than a backpack would have been because I could just twist it around to my side or front when we sat down. &nbsp;As soon as you get there you should go to Guest Relations to set up your DAS card.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Strollers</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">You can rent strollers at Disney. &nbsp;We got a double stroller for the day for $30. &nbsp; There is a seatbelt on it. &nbsp; It's plastic and it will get hot while it's sitting outside and you're on&nbsp;the rides. &nbsp;If you park it in the shade, there is a good chance it will be&nbsp;moved by a Disney cast member who organizes the strollers and the stroller could end up in the sun. &nbsp;There is also no&nbsp;shade provided by the stroller. &nbsp;The cover that is supposed to provide shade is bent from people putting their stuff on it and provides zero shade. &nbsp;(This is what one of the cast members told me when I was asking her about why it wasn't pulling out enough for shade.) &nbsp;Thankfully my son was in the mood to wear his hat, which is not always the case. &nbsp;We even went back to get a different stroller and they are all like that! &nbsp;It is also hard to see your child while you are pushing the stroller because of this "shade cover." &nbsp;Notice I used quotes on that. &nbsp;I was&nbsp;paranoid that my son would unbuckle himself and run off, so that was a little&nbsp;stressful, but overall&nbsp;the stroller worked.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Next time we will likely bring our own&nbsp;stroller or rent one from outside the park. &nbsp;When we left instead of taking a trolley back to the parking lot, we had to take a giant ferry boat. &nbsp;It was the only option. &nbsp;I asked. &nbsp;We didn't have a stroller because we had to turn it in before leaving, so we had to make sure my son wasn't running around all over&nbsp;the place. &nbsp;Thankfully he was too tired and hot to do any running around and he&nbsp;just sat&nbsp;there!</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Safety: Identification Sticker</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I made his sticker to put on my son's back any time we're at a busy place where there are a lot of people and he has the potential to get lost. &nbsp;A lot of people notice it and read it when we're around in public, so maybe we're spreading a little awareness too! &nbsp;<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/FREE-Autism-Identification-Sticker-Editable-2623862" target="_blank">Here is a link to it for free for you</a> :) &nbsp;It is editable, and you just print it on large address labels. &nbsp;Take a few because it may get wet! &nbsp;M</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">y son is not&nbsp;functionally verbal (essentially nonverbal) and cannot give someone our names or his own name, let alone phone number. &nbsp;He probably wouldn't even know he was lost for quite some time! &nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b>***PLEASE NOTE: You may want to consider removing the “my name is” part&nbsp;if your child might leave somewhere with a stranger that knows his/her name.</b></i></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/FREE-Autism-Identification-Sticker-Editable-2623862" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VlfbSyKHL-M/V3la2MhSSeI/AAAAAAAACEQ/VMpklKoJY10U07kgo3mNbyWqxStShIUegCLcB/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-07-03%2Bat%2B1.34.46%2BPM.png" /></a><span id="goog_1631701849"></span><span id="goog_1631701850"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Items to Bring</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">These are&nbsp;the items I will be sure to have with me on our next trip:</span><br /><ul><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Froggs Toggs Chilly Pads to keep us cool</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Yeti or Swell bottle thermos to keep our water cold. &nbsp;The water gets warm so quickly in that heat, and no offense to Disney, but the water tastes like there is dirt in it!</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Wear tennis shoes, but take a spare pair of flip flops</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Change of clothes for my son, who cannot stand wearing wet clothes</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hat for my son (silly me forgot, and we had to buy one)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Kavu backpack for our stuff</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">One of those fans that squirts out water</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Snacks (I packed a lunch this time for my son because of his picky eating...don't risk hunger crankiness!)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/FREE-Autism-Identification-Sticker-Editable-2623862" target="_blank">Autism Identification Sticker (free on this link)</a>&nbsp;for my son's back. &nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">***You may want to consider removing the “my name is” part&nbsp;if your child might leave somewhere with a stranger that knows his/her name.</span></li></ul><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Check out some of our photos, and please feel free to leave any other tips you have in the comments!</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eUt-EEIZ4U8/V3Zw4MC_GDI/AAAAAAAACDM/GfT3bv_EKY4QcrkooVw61inCHN_TigcwgCLcB/s1600/IMG_0582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eUt-EEIZ4U8/V3Zw4MC_GDI/AAAAAAAACDM/GfT3bv_EKY4QcrkooVw61inCHN_TigcwgCLcB/s640/IMG_0582.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fRz89fFUpYs/V3Zw4afIn7I/AAAAAAAACDQ/1zrZ0K2gpUkUyZodPaAUU-mXzxKrS7nuQCLcB/s1600/IMG_0604.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fRz89fFUpYs/V3Zw4afIn7I/AAAAAAAACDQ/1zrZ0K2gpUkUyZodPaAUU-mXzxKrS7nuQCLcB/s640/IMG_0604.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QYo4whP7tAM/V3Zw499lGhI/AAAAAAAACDU/AOWbXlORr4k3uf1Zz2mivjtHC0rOuTZggCLcB/s1600/IMG_0610.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QYo4whP7tAM/V3Zw499lGhI/AAAAAAAACDU/AOWbXlORr4k3uf1Zz2mivjtHC0rOuTZggCLcB/s640/IMG_0610.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hhhEwxRI86Q/V3Zw5IRRkjI/AAAAAAAACDY/_hUr9KErxBovcGpAPIeMhzJuE239Xj5rgCLcB/s1600/IMG_0627.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hhhEwxRI86Q/V3Zw5IRRkjI/AAAAAAAACDY/_hUr9KErxBovcGpAPIeMhzJuE239Xj5rgCLcB/s640/IMG_0627.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-l7sQXPqXrOc/VxvZYhgg82I/AAAAAAAAB_I/eJCP1EP1o5QshuNWHyxlqpEZhdXXs4rIgCCo/s279/signature.png" />Rachael Shttps://plus.google.com/113022326268788572098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-938118120993209009.post-31772149808197481522016-06-15T15:29:00.002-05:002016-06-15T15:37:57.589-05:00A Little Progress Can Have A Huge Impact<span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">As a wrote in my <a href="http://www.ramblingsfromrachael.com/2016/02/an-autism-service-dog-for-brandon.html" target="_blank">plea for an autism service dog</a> for Brandon, taking him in public areas has the potential for danger. &nbsp;Even walking out of my house required a death grip on his hand on the way to the car. &nbsp;I couldn't trust him to take even ten steps to the car without bolting. &nbsp;He would run to the back yard, the road, or anywhere else he wanted. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">I</span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">&nbsp;remember even as early as one year ago trying to get him to practice walking beside me when we were walking to the pool. &nbsp;There was never anyone else or any other cars in sight, so it was the perfect place to try.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">We had very little success. &nbsp;He would run off each time. &nbsp;I'm not&nbsp;just talking about running ahead of me to the pool gate. &nbsp;I'm talking&nbsp;attempting to run into lots where there was construction going on, into&nbsp;the road, and around the parking lot. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wFmNvoj4CAo/V2G3-sr9mII/AAAAAAAACCw/ZX7gqHl5ZCoPwtojqr8Nvx9e-GY497-5gCLcB/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wFmNvoj4CAo/V2G3-sr9mII/AAAAAAAACCw/ZX7gqHl5ZCoPwtojqr8Nvx9e-GY497-5gCLcB/s400/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="300" /></a><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">I am happy to say that after over a year of practicing this any&nbsp;time we could, Brandon will now exit the house, walk to the car, and wait in front of his door with zero assistance or&nbsp;prompting from me. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">N</span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">ow, I still hold his hand in parking lots, or anywhere there is the potential for a moving vehicle. &nbsp;But do you have any idea how much less stressful both mentally and&nbsp;physically it is that he can walk to the car on his own? &nbsp;I no longer have to walk back in&nbsp;the&nbsp;house to get all our stuff after he is safely strapped down in his car seat. &nbsp;I can carry everything out, put it in the car, and all the while he is standing&nbsp;there waiting for me to open the&nbsp;door and put him in his car seat.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">So simple.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">But so life changing.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">Do I take my eyes off of him? &nbsp;No. &nbsp;Am I&nbsp;prepared to drop everything and run after him if necessary? &nbsp;Yes. &nbsp;He is only 4,&nbsp;after all. &nbsp;But it is still a&nbsp;huge deal for both of us.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">My hope is that this is also helping to foster more independence from him. &nbsp;He can make good choices without me having to prompt him. &nbsp;He is capable. &nbsp;We just have to keep working so he can be his best self.</span><br /><br /><br /><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-l7sQXPqXrOc/VxvZYhgg82I/AAAAAAAAB_I/eJCP1EP1o5QshuNWHyxlqpEZhdXXs4rIgCCo/s279/signature.png" />Rachael Shttps://plus.google.com/113022326268788572098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-938118120993209009.post-78506150097867236672016-05-10T19:32:00.002-05:002016-05-15T07:37:01.162-05:00Breathe.<span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">Brandon and I&nbsp;spent Mother's Day together. &nbsp;My husband and step-daughter were out of town. &nbsp;It start off as a pretty rough day. &nbsp;Brandon had continuous meltdowns...kicking and screaming. &nbsp;I left the house for my mom's 45 minutes late, which is rare for me, even having a child with autism to get out the door.</span><br><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">We hung out at the pool, and I had about 15 solid minutes to sit down and relax. &nbsp;Brandon was over it, and walked around&nbsp;the&nbsp;large&nbsp;backyard. &nbsp;There are several trees, hills, and lots of space to run around. &nbsp;He can spend hours out there. &nbsp;The whole backyard is fenced in, and surrounded by trees and bushes. &nbsp;There&nbsp;is a creek on&nbsp;the outside of the fence, making the soothing sound of running water that he seems to enjoy.</span><br><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">I was sitting on the hill, watching him play. &nbsp;Even though the yard is fenced in, I watch him&nbsp;like a hawk, because I am&nbsp;paranoid that if there is a hole in the fence somewhere, he will find it.</span><br><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">Suddenly, I could hear my five-year-old nephew screaming. &nbsp;He began sobbing because a bee was "chasing" him. &nbsp;I ran over to the&nbsp;gate to&nbsp;the pool, swung it open, and told him to run to me. &nbsp;He jumped in my arms and we ran away from&nbsp;the pool. &nbsp;He calmed down almost immediately, and told me thank you for saving him.</span><br><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">I looked up for Brandon.</span><br><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">I couldn't see him.</span><br><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">Still holding him, I told my nephew, Karson, "We're going to walk down here so I can see Brandon, okay?"</span><br><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">I still didn't see him.</span><br><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">I called out his name and looked around.</span><br><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">Nothing...</span><br><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">I put Karson down and started running towards&nbsp;the fence.</span><br><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">I heard crying. &nbsp;My eyes darted back and forth, following the sound. &nbsp;I could not see him anywhere. &nbsp;I started screaming his name, and my mom and dad came running down.</span><br><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="font-family: helvetica neue, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">All I could picture was him laying in&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot;, &quot;arial&quot;, &quot;helvetica&quot;, sans-serif;">the</span><span style="font-family: helvetica neue, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">&nbsp;creek&nbsp;with a broken leg.</span><br><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">My mom kept telling me the crying was coming from the neighbor's. &nbsp;I couldn't think straight. &nbsp;He was nowhere. &nbsp;I spun around scanning the yard,&nbsp;holding my head&nbsp;thinking, "This&nbsp;is not happening." &nbsp;I felt like my mind was spinning in circles. &nbsp;People say that a traumatic event like this feel like slow motion. &nbsp;It was the opposite for me.</span><br><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">Finally, I saw him standing on top of the hill at the gate by the pool on the opposite side.</span><br><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">He was totally fine,&nbsp;just looking at the pool through&nbsp;the gate.</span><br><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">I ran up to him. &nbsp;Crying, I scooped him up. &nbsp;He was safe. &nbsp;</span><br><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">I set him down, and&nbsp;suddenly I couldn't breathe. &nbsp;I was gasping for air. &nbsp;My chest was tight -&nbsp;something I had never experienced&nbsp;before. &nbsp;All I could think was, "I can't breathe. &nbsp;Breathe, Rachael. &nbsp;Breathe." &nbsp;I sucked in all&nbsp;the air I could, but it&nbsp;just wasn't enough. &nbsp;After&nbsp;what felt like an hour of gasping for air, I finally caught&nbsp;may breath. &nbsp;My chest still felt tight for the next hour.</span><br><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">It took me about 15 seconds to turn my back and get Karson. &nbsp;15 seconds was all it took for my world to seemingly come crashing down around me.</span><br><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">People, sometimes even family, cannot understand why I don't want to take Brandon certain places. &nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">"He'll do fine!" is what I constantly hear. &nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: &quot;\22 helvetica neue\22 &quot; , &quot;\22 arial\22 &quot; , &quot;\22 helvetica\22 &quot; , sans-serif;">Or&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">why I&nbsp;</span><u style="font-family: 'helvetica neue', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">always</u><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">&nbsp;designate one single person to be in charge of Brandon if I leave the room.</span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: &quot;\22 helvetica neue\22 &quot; , &quot;\22 arial\22 &quot; , &quot;\22 helvetica\22 &quot; , sans-serif;">It seems silly to be so adamant that someone is watching him while I simply use the restroom. &nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">It's a constant stress and worry that I have to be on top of. &nbsp;What happened on Mother's Day is what I dread. &nbsp;It is my ultimate fear.</span><br><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">If only...</span><br><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">If only he could talk...</span><br><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">If only he would respond to his name when I call...</span><br><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">If only he&nbsp;understood the kind of danger he can put himself in...</span><br><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">If only he understood that his mother worries...</span><br><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">These are things I'm still waiting on, not because I am in impatient person, but&nbsp;because sometimes his autism puts him at&nbsp;risk for danger.</span><div><font face="helvetica neue, arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="helvetica neue, arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-20ZHjte30zA/VzhtbPWAscI/AAAAAAAACCQ/PBPUVxXuMk0/s640/blogger-image-827770948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-20ZHjte30zA/VzhtbPWAscI/AAAAAAAACCQ/PBPUVxXuMk0/s640/blogger-image-827770948.jpg"></a></div><br></font><br><br><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-l7sQXPqXrOc/VxvZYhgg82I/AAAAAAAAB_I/eJCP1EP1o5QshuNWHyxlqpEZhdXXs4rIgCCo/s279/signature.png"></div>Rachael Shttps://plus.google.com/113022326268788572098noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-938118120993209009.post-79857148066104186202016-05-08T08:28:00.001-05:002017-09-03T09:27:44.053-05:00Have You Filled a Bucket Today?: Community Building in the Classroom<span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Use this activity to create a sense of community and a culture of kindness in your classroom. Give your students their own "buckets" to fill with kindness!</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">This community building activity is based off of the book, Have You Filled A Bucket Today?: A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids by Carol McCloud. It's all about how you should treat others, and the consequences for your words and actions towards others - both good and bad.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Bucket-Fillers-Bulletin-Board-Have-You-Filled-a-Bucket-Today-2087744" target="_blank">Click here for the graphics in my Teachers Pay Teachers Store!</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;This listing is for the letters for "BUCKET" and "FILLERS" for your bulletin board.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">I used clear plastic cups as buckets, using a push pin to attach them to the bulletin board. &nbsp;They're not shown in the picture, but I printed each student's name out on a label and just stuck it to the cup. &nbsp;Don't forget to make one for yourself! &nbsp;I also used push pins to hold the book up on the bulletin board. &nbsp;I put one on the top and bottom of the book (without actually piercing the book) in order to hold it put there without damaging it. &nbsp;You can also cut up bulletin board border and just drop it inside the bucket to add some cuteness. :)</span><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span id="goog_317123469"></span><span id="goog_317123470"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Bucket-Fillers-Bulletin-Board-Have-You-Filled-a-Bucket-Today-2087744" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="485" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LokXtIYxHjQ/WawRMt-GWfI/AAAAAAAACXI/aH_FLxSEJuQKJO1l8tfd-_DlvOeKR7akQCLcBGAs/s640/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-07-27%2Bat%2B4.34.34%2BPM.png" width="492" /></a></div><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The children fill&nbsp;each others buckets by writing kind notes to each other throughout the day. &nbsp;We had a new student the year, and without me saying a word about it, my students had filled her bucket by the end of the day. &nbsp;Think about the fears of little girl entering a brand new school, where she doesn't know a soul. &nbsp;Imagine how those fear were eased after receiving a handful of kind notes from her brand new classmates. &nbsp;Like I said, I did not tell them to do that. &nbsp;They did it all on their own. &nbsp;Needless to say, this strategy works! &nbsp;I took it down in December. &nbsp;Halfway through the year after they had become very comfortable with each other, they started to just write random notes to each other. &nbsp;I think the novelty of the physical wore off (but not the kindess!), and it was time to move on to something else.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">This is my favorite note I have gotten in my own bucket. &nbsp;(Yes, I have one too!)</span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">&nbsp;</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sfUdpCbiH3Y/ViI02MeE4LI/AAAAAAAABxc/xwmJCn1uqBY/s1600/12038072_10102854381279215_6738118930756513495_n-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sfUdpCbiH3Y/ViI02MeE4LI/AAAAAAAABxc/xwmJCn1uqBY/s640/12038072_10102854381279215_6738118930756513495_n-1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-l7sQXPqXrOc/VxvZYhgg82I/AAAAAAAAB_I/eJCP1EP1o5QshuNWHyxlqpEZhdXXs4rIgCCo/s279/signature.png" /></div><span style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 113px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 1269px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 113px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 1269px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></span>Rachael Shttps://plus.google.com/113022326268788572098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-938118120993209009.post-82469811233655789022016-05-01T12:53:00.001-05:002016-05-01T15:39:10.507-05:00No Greater Hell<div><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">I'm reading a new book, and so far I like it, and I appreciate&nbsp;the&nbsp;awareness it brings to high functioning autism.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">However...</span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">This quote&nbsp;annoyed me.</span></div><div><i><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br></span></i></div><div style="text-indent: 0px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; text-indent: -30px;"><i>"I've met so many parents of the kids who are on the low end of the autism spectrum, kids who are diametrically opposed to Jacob, with his Asperger's. They tell me I'm lucky to have a son who's verbal, who is blisteringly intelligent, who can take apart the broken microwave and have it working again an hour later. They think there is no greater hell than having a son who is locked in his own world, unaware that there's a wider one to explore. But try having a son who is locked in his own world and still wants to make a connection. A son who tries to be like everyone else but truly doesn't know how."</i></span></div><div style="text-indent: 0px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; text-indent: -30px;"><i><br></i></span></div><div style="text-indent: 0px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; text-indent: -30px;">Okay<i>.&nbsp;</i></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'helvetica neue', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -30px;">Just&nbsp;because a child is nonverbal, does not mean he or she does not </span><i style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'helvetica neue', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -30px;">want</i><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'helvetica neue', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -30px;"> to make a connection. That thought is a huge myth and misconception of autism. It pains me to hear someone even suggest that they don't.</span></div><div style="text-indent: 0px;"><span style="text-indent: -30px;"><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br></span></span><span style="text-indent: -30px;"><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">My son is low functioning and essentially nonverbal. He wants so badly to make a connection that he will physically hurt himself, or me, due to such intense frustration from not being able to communicate. &nbsp;Just today, he clawed at MY face because he hurt HIS foot. &nbsp; &nbsp;His intention was not to harm me because he was mad at me. &nbsp;He doesn't know how to express what he's feeling so he lashed out in an inappropriate way.</span></span><br><span style="text-indent: -30px;"><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br></span></span> <span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="text-indent: -30px;">Maybe&nbsp;</span><span style="text-indent: -30px;">I am being over sensitive here. I don't think so...but you know what? That's parenting. &nbsp;I have stuck my foot in my mouth on this very blog. I don't believe this author to be ill intentioned. &nbsp;I did some research, and as a far as I can tell, she doesn't have a son with autism. &nbsp;I am going to continue to read this book because I think it will be good one. I wish that quote wasn't said, but more than anything I hope you are reading this post and understand where I'm coming from.&nbsp;</span></span><br><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="text-indent: -30px;"><br></span></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="text-indent: -30px;"></span></span><br><span style="text-indent: -30px;"><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">To the point of the author, parents of low functioning children should not tell another mother that she is "lucky" because of the characteristics of her son with high functioning autism has. &nbsp;No person, fellow autism parent or not,&nbsp;should pass judgement on the level of luck or hell we have with our autistic children.</span></span><br><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="text-indent: -30px;"><br></span></span><span style="text-indent: -30px;"><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">Regrettably, I will admit that I have looked at other autism families and thought, "I WISH those were the extent of our struggles." &nbsp;Some days, like when Brandon hurts me due to his lack of ability communicate, it is hard not to compare. &nbsp;But it's not right. &nbsp;As I go&nbsp;further into this journey, I realize&nbsp;more and more&nbsp;that there are so many struggles on all parts of&nbsp;the spectrum that we will&nbsp;never see.</span></span><br><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="text-indent: -30px;"><br></span></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="text-indent: -30px;">The real truth is that there is <b>no greater hell than seeing your children or a loved one suffer in any way.</b>&nbsp; Let's not compare battle scars here. &nbsp;We special needs parents are licking our wounds - sometimes emotional and sometimes physical. &nbsp;It's not about who has it harder...who is the luckiest or who is in the&nbsp;greatest hell.</span></span><br><span style="text-indent: -30px;"><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br></span></span><br> <span style="text-indent: -30px;"><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br></span></span><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l7sQXPqXrOc/VxvZYhgg82I/AAAAAAAAB_I/FYrljZG0t_El5a4enR9TK5wjXdvQrtLgwCKgB/s1600/signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="50" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l7sQXPqXrOc/VxvZYhgg82I/AAAAAAAAB_I/FYrljZG0t_El5a4enR9TK5wjXdvQrtLgwCKgB/s200/signature.png" width="200"></a></div><span style="text-indent: -30px;"><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br></span></span></div>Rachael Shttps://plus.google.com/113022326268788572098noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-938118120993209009.post-83572077518137296102016-04-24T13:17:00.001-05:002016-04-24T13:19:18.612-05:00Vocabulary With Style: Vocab T-Shirt Design<span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">Looking for a something more interesting to teach vocabulary? &nbsp;Writing the words and copying the definitions is booooring! &nbsp;My students created their own t-shirt designs to represent our vocabulary words in Social Studies for this week. I just googled "t-shirt outline" and printed one out for the&nbsp;students.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">They created rough drafts for all seven of our vocabulary words so they could come up with a visual representation for all of our words. &nbsp;They picked their favorite one, and created a larger design with some color!</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">Check out what my 4th graders came up with!</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FObB5Ya9dv8/VxaoLQByC3I/AAAAAAAAB8A/4A6BCWEEYRod6hrQCJZ2a18C88quveybwCKgB/s1600/skitch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FObB5Ya9dv8/VxaoLQByC3I/AAAAAAAAB8A/4A6BCWEEYRod6hrQCJZ2a18C88quveybwCKgB/s640/skitch.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rTNpGVrx3o0/VxaoKGSyeeI/AAAAAAAAB74/_vJ_rpQMRWEDxxW3ncFi2WmgpkI6hTNOACLcB/s1600/skitch-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rTNpGVrx3o0/VxaoKGSyeeI/AAAAAAAAB74/_vJ_rpQMRWEDxxW3ncFi2WmgpkI6hTNOACLcB/s640/skitch-1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a1Vq9dZX5YE/VxaoKM-lBWI/AAAAAAAAB70/9ZMbIhd2nJ4moz2hcGJmSTpST5DqHic6gCLcB/s1600/skitch-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a1Vq9dZX5YE/VxaoKM-lBWI/AAAAAAAAB70/9ZMbIhd2nJ4moz2hcGJmSTpST5DqHic6gCLcB/s640/skitch-2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-avwt4foed6w/VxaoKAHJvJI/AAAAAAAAB78/82ZqNyEfZ8gvCzFMlAxUz5yJt-rEEsD3ACLcB/s1600/skitch-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-avwt4foed6w/VxaoKAHJvJI/AAAAAAAAB78/82ZqNyEfZ8gvCzFMlAxUz5yJt-rEEsD3ACLcB/s640/skitch-3.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l7sQXPqXrOc/VxvZYhgg82I/AAAAAAAAB_I/FYrljZG0t_El5a4enR9TK5wjXdvQrtLgwCKgB/s1600/signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="51" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l7sQXPqXrOc/VxvZYhgg82I/AAAAAAAAB_I/FYrljZG0t_El5a4enR9TK5wjXdvQrtLgwCKgB/s200/signature.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Rachael Shttps://plus.google.com/113022326268788572098noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-938118120993209009.post-82623278901789671112016-04-23T15:23:00.002-05:002016-04-23T15:32:12.100-05:00New Blog Design... Thank you Blog Queens!<span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">I have my new blog design! &nbsp;Why the new look and URL? &nbsp;I was never really in love with my blog title. &nbsp;I also started teaching and often found myself wanting to write about that. &nbsp;This blog is for YOU, but it is also for me. &nbsp;So, I wanted to keep the autism blogging going primarily (don't worry...that is still the main focus!), but I also wanted</span><span style="font-family: '&quot;helvetica neue&quot;', '&quot;arial&quot;', '&quot;helvetica&quot;', sans-serif;">&nbsp;blog about another very important part of my life, and in important part of who I am: a teacher. &nbsp;Finally, I&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: 'helvetica neue', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">also wanted to have a place to show of products in my </span><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Ramblings-From-Rachael" style="font-family: 'helvetica neue', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Teachers Pay Teachers store</a><span style="font-family: 'helvetica neue', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">,</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">A</span><span style="font-family: 'helvetica neue', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">fter two hours of playing around on GoDaddy to not only get this new URL to work, but to get ramblingsofaspecialmom.com forwarded over here, I'm FINALLY back up and running! &nbsp;That was SO&nbsp;stressful! &nbsp;Getting the new blog design was super easy though.</span><br /><div><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">Blog Queens did a wonderful job. &nbsp;They were fast, friendly, and cost effective. &nbsp;Loved working with them!</span><br /><div><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogsfitforaqueen.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fWpoaKr4pXE/VxvYvdyuBRI/AAAAAAAAB-8/pujIAD7i9g4j-1Rto3YiOwOPDd3-7ueDACLcB/s200/blogqueen4.png" width="193" /></a><span id="goog_1067158279"></span><span id="goog_1067158280"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l7sQXPqXrOc/VxvZYhgg82I/AAAAAAAAB_E/baqnWOQhctQAAy2OVlH2yoxioUPwK1xUACLcB/s1600/signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="50" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l7sQXPqXrOc/VxvZYhgg82I/AAAAAAAAB_E/baqnWOQhctQAAy2OVlH2yoxioUPwK1xUACLcB/s200/signature.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D938118120993209009%23editor%2Ftarget%3Dpost%3BpostID%3D8357207751813729610%3BonPublishedMenu%3Dposts%3BonClosedMenu%3Dposts%3BpostNum%3D0%3Bsrc%3Dlink&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-fWpoaKr4pXE%2FVxvYvdyuBRI%2FAAAAAAAAB-8%2FpujIAD7i9g4j-1Rto3YiOwOPDd3-7ueDACLcB%2Fs1600%2Fblogqueen4.png&amp;xm=h&amp;xv=sa1.37.01&amp;xuid=WbHCHYAi_G58&amp;description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 208px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 90px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D938118120993209009%23editor%2Ftarget%3Dpost%3BpostID%3D8357207751813729610%3BonPublishedMenu%3Dposts%3BonClosedMenu%3Dposts%3BpostNum%3D0%3Bsrc%3Dlink&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-fWpoaKr4pXE%2FVxvYvdyuBRI%2FAAAAAAAAB-8%2FpujIAD7i9g4j-1Rto3YiOwOPDd3-7ueDACLcB%2Fs1600%2Fblogqueen4.png&amp;xm=h&amp;xv=sa1.37.01&amp;xuid=WbHCHYAi_G58&amp;description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 208px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 90px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a></div>Rachael Shttps://plus.google.com/113022326268788572098noreply@blogger.com0